Just when you think that you're on the Yellow-Brick road headed to Oz, you hit an unexpected speed bump. A speed bump that, at first, slows you down, but makes you stronger before you're back to 'full speed ahead'.
It was now the middle of July.
During Sam's weekly phone call with her mom, she mentioned that we needed to come down there the following weekend, as there was something that we needed to share with them. Her mom asked if everything was OK with her. Sam reassured her that she was fine... adding that 'No' she wasn't pregnant. Her mom laughed and said, "I didn't mean that."
Anyway, Sam just explained that it was something that she didn't want to talk about over the phone and that I needed to be with her.
I had a similar phone call with my mom. I got the same question if everything was all right with me. And then if everything was OK with US. Reassuring her, we set Friday night for meeting with them.
We were both a bit nervous on our drive to meet my parents at their Club. I was a little nervous about letting them know my plans to move. Then, more nervous about
our
plans.
Having lived in the same small town all their lives, they're pretty conservative in their values and beliefs. My dad was a member of the same church that he grew up with, was married in, and attended every Sunday. Outside of the one conversation I had with my dad over the summer, where he made the comment 'She's the one', I really hadn't talked about Sam and me. But, I knew that they knew how we felt about each other... but, maybe not to where it had grown over the last few months.
Sam got big smiles and hugs from my mom and dad, as we found a place at the bar, got some drinks, and just chatted about what was going on in our lives. I wasn't going to bring up the whole reason of why we wanted to get together while sitting at the bar and within earshot of nosey eves-droppers.
Finding a table off to the side, our idle conversation continued until we had finished our wonderful fish fry. I went and got us another round of adult beverages.
Sam and I exchanged looks. Again, not missed by my parents. I took her hand under the table.
"Well, I suppose that you're wondering what's going on?"
"Yeah. Kind of got us wondering. Are you
two
OK? I mean, you said it was something that you didn't want to talk about over the phone," my mom, with a mom's concerned voice.
"We're fine."
And then, I just laid it out there. Everything: my recent travels, interacting with the sister companies, the offer for promotion, increase in salary. Then, gripping Sam's hand.
"I'll have to relocate to Colorado Springs."
Dead silence, except for the background noise from the rest of those that were eating. Sam clutched my hand. Looking at my parents, they knew that there was more.
"Samantha's going with me."
More silence. They knew that I
still
wasn't done.
"She's going to move in with me. We're going to live together."
Our hands, under the table, were probably turning white as our grips tightened. We waited.
My mom was the first to speak.
"We kind of always suspected that your career might take you away from us. We're both so proud of you; the first, and only one in the family to graduate from college. And whatever it is that you do, you must be very good at it.
"We were really happy that your first job was relatively close, as we got to see you every so often. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you. Besides, Colorado Springs isn't that far away. It's not like it's across the country."
Then, with a warm 'mom smile'.
"Samantha belongs at your side. You two belong together."
Looking over at Sam, we each exchanged warm smiles, and gave each other's hand a gentle squeeze under the table as the non-verbal, 'Whew' was passed between us.
"That's quite a commitment, for both of you," my dad added.
"It is. We can't see ourselves living apart. It's something that we both know that we're ready for. And, yes, we both know what the next step will be, and we're each fine with that. We just need time. We'll know when the time is right for that."
"Samantha, you moving away from your family and all. What do they think about all of this?"
"I haven't told them yet. We're meeting with them tomorrow. They only know that Bill and I wanted to get together with them. I'm sure they'll be disappointed in me moving away. They were kind of disappointed when I moved up here, an hour and a half away. But, they also knew that it was best for my career, as there was nothing around there for what I wanted to do.
"As far as the living together part; I'm not sure how that will go over. They both like Bill. They know that he's good to and for me, and that he would do anything for me. To always comfort me when I need comfort."
"It'll most likely be hardest on your dad, you being his only daughter. I know that I would be," my dad added.
"Yeah. For as long as I can remember, I've always been the 'Apple' in his eye. He was always there for me. Always checking out my dates. I remember the one time that I broke up with a guy because he was just too controlling. The guy kept bothering me. Hanging out next to my car after school. Calling the house. One day I came home crying. While the guy never touched me, I heard from my girlfriends that he had said some pretty mean things about me. My dad asked what happened. I told him. Being a small town, I later heard from a couple of my girlfriends, that he had been told to stay away from me... or else. I didn't want to think about what the 'or else' would be," Sam's hands going up in quotes.
After a bit of a quiet moment, my mom says, "Well, here's my opinion, just from what I see in you two. You're both very practical. You trust and respect each other. The two of you have a connection that a lot of couples wished they had a fraction of. If you were my daughter and planning on going off and living with this guy, I wouldn't have a problem. But, then I'm kind of biased."
That brought a laugh from everyone and eased any tension.
The rest of the evening went great. Sam danced with my dad. She was even picking up a few polka-steps.
Sam and I danced to some lively ones and some slow ones.
Toward the end of the evening, I held the love of my life, as the female country vocalist sang,
Help me make it through the night
.
Take the ribbon from my hair
Shake it loose and let it fall
Lay it soft upon my skin
