Samuel's Rainstorm

Chapter 4

By 5 p.m., Storm has arrived, and all of us are still outside, along with dad, who has just arrived from work. Storm climbs from his pretty, burgundy colored Dodge Ram truck with a smile that immediately falters when he notices everyone starring at him. 

"Hey Storm," I warmly greet him with a smile as he joins us on the front porch. "Let me introduce you to everyone. This is my dad, who you've already met. These are my siblings, Leah and Gabriel, my grandad Elliot, and my grandpa Samuel."

"What are your intentions with my grandson, young man?" grandad immediately questions, instantly making me groan as I adjust my hold on Rain. 

"Grandad," I groan causing Rain to giggle loudly as do Leah and Gabe, and dad and grandpa grin broadly. 

"Sammy," he mocks right back with a glint of mischief in his eyes. 

Storm nervously clears his throat before answering; "Um, my intentions are to become his friend, sir."

"That's fine, but remember you break his heart or Rain's, I won't be happy," grandad warns him seriously causing Storm to nod furiously in agreement. 

"Okay, dad when do you want Rain and I home?" I ask trying to stop any further questions to be asked. 

"Be home no later than 9 p.m., so Rain isn't in be too late," he answers after a moment of thinking.

Giving him a bright smile, I say; "Thanks. See everyone then."

They say their goodbyes as I walk Rain and I to Storm's truck before stopping. Turninb back around to walk over to dad's truck to take Rain's car seat from the back with a struggle until Storm steps in. Smiling apprecitivly up at him as I move out of his way, and then I shut the door behind him once he's moved out of the way with the car seat in hand. He gently smiles at Rain and I as he secures her seat into the back of his truck. Once it's secured, he backs away to let me buckle Rain in as he walks around the back of the truck to his seat, and climbs inside. I then climb in the front passenger seat after I've settled Rain, and then Storm drives us off once he's started the truck. 

"So, where are we going, or is it a surprise?" I question curiously as I notice we're driving toward the edge of the reservation. 

"I figured we would have dinner at a little cafe I have found, and then spend time at a nearby park before taking you both home. Does that sound okay?" he nervously replies. 

Grinning over at him I happily reply; "That sounds great! Don't worry as I have money to pay for Rain and I."

Storm frowns as he replies; "Nope. I invited you two to hangout with me, so it's my treat."

When I open my mouth to protest, Storm glances at me quickly, and I instead say; "Thank you, Storm. Next time we eat out, it's my treat."

"You're welcome, Samuel, and that sounds like a plan," he replies with a grin. 

"You can call me Sammy, if you'd like," I softly telling him as I pick at a loose string on my black colored jeans. 

"I might, but I just might come up with my own nickname for you," he replies with a smirk. "What's your middle name?" 

"It's Sequayah," I mumble, not sure if he would laugh or not. 

"Like the Sequoia tree?" he curiously asks in return. 

"Yes, but it's spelled differently than the tree. My middle name is spelled the Cherokee way, and it means 'Sparrow', in Cherokee," I reply with a gentle smile. 

"What is Rain's middle name?" he asks while pulling into a cafe, and then parks. 

"Her middle name is Kamama, which means 'butterfly,'" I reply as we climb out with a bright smile before I open the back door to unbuckle Rain, and take her from the truck. 

"That's very beautiful, Samuel," he softly replies as he softly runs the palm of his right hand over Rain's soft hair with a smile, that I swear holds fondness in it. 

Grinning up at him as he opens the cafe door for Rain and I to enter before him; "Thank you. Kamama was my great grandmother's name."

"Hello, and welcome to 'Grannies'," an older woman in her sixties greets with a warm smile. "Just the three of you?" 

"Yes ma'am," I reply with a smile at her while Rain bables at the woman. "Can we have a high chair for her, please?" 

"Of course, would you gentlemen like a table or booth?" she replies while grabbing two menus as she comes from behind the counter.

"A table, please," Storm replies as we follow behind her. 

She leads us to a table for two after picking up a high chair. After she places the chair at the table, I place Rain in, and buckle her as the lady asks if we know what we would like to drink. Storms orders himself a coke, I order Rain applejuice, and myself a coke. She leaves with a promise our drinks will be brought out by our server. 

"So, what's good here?" I question Storm as I glance over the menu at him while he does the same. 

"Any of the hot sandwiches are really good as are the burgers," he replies looking at me as he closes his menu to place it back on the table. 

"A hot turkey sandwich sounds really good," I tell him look at what comes with it - mashed potatoes, so Rain can have bites of everything. 

"How about we play twenty questions?" he suggests once we've placed our orders. 

"Sure that sounds fun," I agree smiling brightly at him as I hand Rain a few toys from her diaper bag to play with. "You go first."

"If this question is too personal, I totally understand if you don't want to answer," he begins before asking his question. "Where's your mom?"

"She died twelve years ago when I was four, Leah was three, and Gabe was two," I reply with a small frown. "She had brain cancer, and none of us kids really remember her, except for her signing songs to us."

"Holy moly, I'm so sorry, Samuel," he replies with a sad expression. 

"What's your favorite color?" I ask instead of replying any more about my mother. 

"Black. What's your favorite color?" he returns, seeming to understand my change of subject. 

"Silver," I say as the server arrives with our food. 

We continue our questions until we're done eating, and then we head to the park that is a half of a mile away. We stary there for an hour before Storm takes us home since Rain is becoming tired.