Letters for Sally

Chapter 20

Chapter 20
Harry and Sally got settled on the plane and he gave her the window seat which made her happy.  She was still nervous and Harry could tell from her face that she was thinking again.  He realized she was a teen, almost a woman, but still a kid in many ways and that dealing with this adult stuff was a lot.  The fear of the known is a hard fear to just 'overcome'.  However, he knew the blood that ran in her veins, DNA from two very resilient people. She would be ok and he would help her any way he could.  Sally looked at him, "Harry, will I be ok?  What do you think the lawyer will say?  Will I be expected to run a business at 17 almost 18 years old?  What will I do?  Will I have to go to business school?"  Harry put his arm around her shoulder and drew her worried heart and body into an embrace. "Shhhhh baby girl, breath, it will be ok. I really don't think anyone expects you to run a big business.  I also think you will get to have your own life.  You will have some tough choices to make most likely but it won't be all or none.  We shouldn't worry over tomorrow yet, we can worry when tomorrow gets here and we have spoken to the guy about what we need to do.  I will be there, I will help you and God will guide us.  He always does."  Harry rubbed her upper arm to soothe her and she laid her head on his chest. "I am really not sure how I would have got through all this without you and Maggie.  You two stepped in and just immediately was family.  You have treated me like your own daughter."  Harry smiled down at her, it's funny you say that, cause sometimes I forget you're not really my baby girl.  I love you like you are our own child, like you have always been with us.  Sometimes I struggle with deep regret that I didn't try harder to stay in touch.  Maybe it is because I loved your parents so much or maybe because Maggie and I couldn't have children of our own.  Whatever the reason, I feel like you're my baby girl.  Is that ok with you Sally?"  Sally smiled up at him, "Of course, I like having a father figure in my life.  I adore you and Maggie."  Harry rubbed her arm again, "Ok Miss, Sally we have to a very long ride ahead and tomorrow is a big day.  You better get some rest.  Try to sleep or at least let your mind settle and have some peace."  Sally snuggled into Harry's arm and then closed her eyes. "I wish I would have had you a longtime ago but I am happy I have you now, you and Maggie.  Hey Harry, one more thing..." "What's that?" "When I get married someday will you walk me down the aisle and dance the father daughter dance with me?"  Tears formed into both the corners of Harry's eyes, "Sally that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever asked me. I would be honored to walk my best friend's daughter, to protect her, and be a dad to her in every way until she is given away.  Sally, you're making me cry in public!"  Sally laughed and then closed her eyes again, she drifted asleep dreaming of a wedding day, a day that she becomes Hotah's wife.  Her mind wanders and thinks, 'I hope this isn't just a dream I hope it is a vision of the future.  I hope everything works out tomorrow in a way that allows me to go back home with Harry and back into Hotah's arms.  But... God's will be done.  I hope my will and God's will are the same'

Sally wakes up startled.  The plane was jumping, she heard close thunder, some rattling that wasn't there before, and the lights flashed a few times.  She looked out the window and saw dark clouds and no sunlight, she knew that wasn't good because this was a daytime flight.  She looked over at Harry and he was sleeping.  The voice over the speaker says, "This is the captain speaking again, the ride will continue to be bumpy as we try to rise above this storm.  Please keep your seat belts fastened and take a moment to read over emergency procedures, as a caution.  Please stay calm and buckled in your seats as we ride this storm."  Sally quickly took the manual from the seat pocket in front of her and started reading it again.  She knew everything was most likely ok but decided it wouldn't hurt to reread the document.  She looked over at Harry, tempted to wake him up but concluded it was not necessary.  The plane jumped and bumped again this time hard enough to jolt her up and down.  She looked out the window and saw several strikes of lightning in the distant almost black clouds. The sound was loud and eerie.  Her heart started to pound a little harder and she wondered how Harry could sleep through all this. The lights began to flash again, off and on several times.  Another clap of thunder startled her once more.  She looked over at Harry and contemplated waking him up and then again wondered how he was still asleep with all the loud booming.  She looked out the window again and noticed the lighting was a little closer this time and the booms got louder and closer.  Her heart started beating even faster and the strikes seemed like they were close enough to touch.  She was starting to feel panic and fear.  So many thoughts ran through her mind as she tried to stay calm and think good thoughts.  She wondered how Maggie and Hotah would do if this plane crashed.  She was now thinking about her mother again and how much she missed her.  She turned to wake Harry up until the plane started to rise above the black clouds and into the grey and then before she knew it they were above the storm.  The captain came back on the speaker, "We are above the storm and all immediately danger is no longer present.  Please keep your belts fastened until further notice. Also be advised that we will be running about 30 minutes behind schedule due to the change in course because of the unexpected change in weather.  We are crossing the Midwest after all.  Thank you"

Sally laid her head back on the seat and relaxed.  She wasn't going to die today.  She got out her phone and started making notes of everything she needed to do.

-'Get my diploma
-Go through my mother's stuff (ask Roger what his wife's clothing size is. Mom's clothes could fit her)
-Pack up mom's stuff that I don't want to keep and give it away
-Pack up her own stuff and give some of it away (give Rogers 3 kids and wife first pick)
-Make sure Roger has paid for a year to give him time to find another job. (I want to cook for myself)
-Make sure Roger got all his salary while she was gone
-What to talk to lawyer about:
The business
Her duties to the business
Her home (I know I don't want to live in the hotel anymore, I want to live in a real house)
What her mother's will said
Who her guardian will be until she turns 18'
Figure out how much money she has to work with so she knows how to plan college and a job.

She figured that was enough for now.  Sally really could not figure out what all needed to be done right now.  She had to talk to the lawyer first.  She started to wonder if she should have talked to him sooner.  She was so afraid of the known but she was now at least ready to face it and no longer hide and run from it.  Whatever her future would hold she knew she at least had people to guide her and help her.  She wasn't alone anymore.

Once they reached the airport Sally was ready to get off the plane and stretch.  Harry woke up and stretched his arms up high.  "Good morning beautiful, did I miss anything important?"  Sally smiled, "I will tell you later but I will give you a sneak peek we both almost died."  He laughed thinking she was joking, "Ok, I look forward to that story."  They got off the plane and got a rental car and headed toward her hotel to settle in.  They would be there for a day before they could meet with the lawyer.