Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 26

The rest of the week went by without incident. Sam worked hard to catch up and in some cases surpass her classmates, and finished all the work that had been sent, and then some.

She got an A+ on her Anne Frank paper and we were so proud.

Dr Freud came twice more that week, his last visit being the Friday before the holiday break from school.

"I know she's still not speaking," he said to us after his session with Sam on Friday. "But I'm seeing some very positive improvements. She seems less skittish, more engaged. There's emotion behind her eyes now. And she smiles, which is so nice to see."

"Agreed," I said. "When that started, on... Monday I think, we were over the moon, honestly."

"I do have to say that I wish you'd waited to talk to me about telling her about her birth father, but going by what you told me, I probably would have done the same."

I nodded.

"If that photographer hadn't been in the woods, I probably would have discussed it with you first. But I needed her to know it wasn't Stanley or anyone who could physically hurt her."

"So, next week is the holidays. I'm off Christmas, obviously, but I'd still like to see Samantha over the break. Maybe Tuesday and Thursday around two?"

"Sure. For both weeks of her school holiday?" Jenna asked.

"Yes. Let's see how she does over the holiday, and maybe after the holiday we can move to the office. Or down to twice a week. Knowing Stanley is dead, seems to have helped just a bit. Well, quite a bit if I'm honest. I just don't want to interfere too much with the holidays.

Over the break, I suggest trying to get her out of the house. Go to a movie, walk in a park, go out for a meal. Maybe even just walk up and down your street to start. She needs to realize that the world is still a safe place, and is even safer now that her biological father is gone."

"We will do our best," I said.

"I mentioned it to Samantha, too. She was not impressed with the suggestion, but she knows it's coming. Just, as usual, be gentle. I know you are, I just like to remind you," he smiled.

I walked him out while Jenna went to check on Samantha, who was still in the living room where she'd had her session with Doc. 

Once Doc was gone I joined my wife and my daughter in the living room. Sam looked... okay. She was snuggled up to Jenna who was running her fingers through her hair and talking about what we could do during the school break. They'd turned on the TV, but weren't really paying attention. 

While we were sitting and watching, and sort of talking, Josh and Brendon and Sarah came in loaded down with more bags.

"What on earth?" I asked. "Is there anything left at the mall?"

"Yeah," Brendon said. "We didn't go into Yankee Candle or that weight loss kiosk."

I rolled my eyes.

"What is all that?"

"That is for me to know and you to find out!" Brendon said as he took the bags upstairs to the room he and Sarah were sharing.

I looked over at Samantha.

"I think you're getting very spoiled by your aunt and uncles this Christmas," I said to her.

She shook her head.

"Well, I'm pretty sure none of that stuff is for me or Jenna. And I have it on good authority, because I was there, they spoke to Santa about you."

Samantha rolled her eyes but was smiling.

"You don't believe in Santa?" I asked incredulously, pretending to be shocked.

She rolled her eyes at me.

"Hey! Guys!" Brendon shouted from upstairs. "It's snowing! Let's go walk in the snow!"

"Sam? What do you think?  Want to go for a walk?  We'll stay close to the house. But look outside. It's really big, fluffy flakes falling!"

Samantha looked outside then at Jenna and then me.  She shook her head sadly.

I moved closer to her.

"Tell you what, let's start just by going to the driveway. Just outside the garage, okay?"

She contemplated that and tears sprang to her eyes. She wanted to but was so scared.

"I'll hold your hand the whole time, okay?"

She acquiesced and we found a hat and mittens for her. We'd gotten her some winter boots hoping she'd use them, and she had a warm coat from Sarah and Brendon that they'd bought when Sam came home from the hospital.

All bundled up, the six of us went outside. It was beautiful. The snow was falling slowly and gently in huge flakes. And it was sticking. I saw Samantha tilt her head up to the sky and open her mouth to catch snowflakes on her tongue. I smiled at Jenna. She smiled back and hugged Sam.

"Hey, there's enough for a snow man!" Brendon called from the front lawn.

Tentatively, Samantha walked over to the lawn and looked down the driveway.  She seemed confident it was okay, so she joined Brendon in making a snow ball that they pushed around the yard.

I watched while Samantha put a second ball on the first and Josh put a smaller third one on top. It was a pretty tall snowman.

Suddenly, Samantha froze. I didn't see why, but I was about to run and make sure she was okay when she turned around and I saw she had a face full of snow. She picked up some snow and made a ball and threw it at Brendon.

He'd thrown a snowball at her. That was why she'd frozen. She hadn't been expecting it.

The two of them chased each other around the yard, throwing snow at each other.

Sam still didn't make a sound, but she had a smile on her face. And that was enough for me.

Finally, Brendon flopped into the snow on his back and grabbed Sam as she ran by.

"Ever made a snow angel?" He asked.

Samantha looked at him and shook her head.

Brendon showed her how to make a snow angel, and she followed his movements.  I helped Brendon up and he helped Sam up and showed her their handiwork.

"I don't know about you guys," Jenna said. "But I'm cold and hungry. Let's do something about dinner and get something warm. Sam, you're soaked. Go on upstairs and take a warm shower and put on some dry clothes. You too, Mr Urie."

We went into the house and Brendon and Sam went upstairs into their separate rooms. Sam didn't come straight down after her shower and Brendon was down in about five minutes.

I went up to check and knocked on her door and announced I was coming in.

I opened the door slowly and saw Samantha on her bed, curled up, in sweatpants and a t shirt, and fast asleep. I wanted to leave her, she looked so content, but she hadn't eaten in a while and had just run around the yard. I gently woke her up and for once she didn't startle awake.

"Hey sweet girl. I know you're tired but you haven't eaten and you were just running around. Come on down for dinner, okay?  You can go to bed early if you feel like it."

She nodded, rubbed her eyes and came downstairs with me.

Jenna had made spaghetti and meat sauce and we all tucked in, after Samantha tested and took her insulin. She was a little low from all the activity, but she dosed  without a problem.

I felt like we'd truly turned a corner.