SWNOVELS Chapter 65: The Apology
The entire lunch was a mix of silence and awkward exchange, but it was thanks to the children's optimism that the mood lightened up.
Kenzie especially walked towards the General and asked, "Grandpa, you did not eat at all. Is there something wrong?"
The little girl's pure-hearted probing and gleaming eyes made Winfield sigh. He gasped as he reached for the child's head and said, "I'm not very." He cleared his throat before resuming, "I'm not very hungry." "But grandpa, Mommy always tells me that food is a blessing! Sometimes we only had chocolate porridge, but you have pork and vegetables on your plate. You should eat that grandpa," revealed Kenzie. While he forced a smile at Kenzie, it all the more tightened Winfield's chest. He turned to Samantha and silently asked for an explanation.
Even Ethan was looking at his wife, wondering what Kenzie meant.
"Um." Samantha pursed her lips as she set aside her utensils. She explained, "Um... before we moved back to Braeton, there were times we needed to save our proteins and vegetables so sometimes." She sneered before adding, "So we have chocolate porridge for breakfast."
She shrugged and said, "They loved it though."
"Yeah, it wasn't so bad," Kyle remarked.
"Well, that will not happen now," reminded Ethan. "Kenzie and Kyle will always have a healthy, balanced meal."
"Eat now, grandpa," Kenzie encouraged. "I'm already finished with my plate."
"Okay, child. I will. Thank you, Kenzie," said Winfield.
It was thanks to Kenzie's little chat with her grandpa that Winfield ate part of his meal, and only after their lunch did he, Ethan and Samantha move to a private room to discuss everything that had happened. From inside his study, Winfield probed, "So tell me.... how did you two end up getting married?"
Ethan explained everything from his first sighting of Samantha until he offered marriage. He said, "I was certain about what I felt for Sam and we have two children. There wasn't a reason for us not to be... a real family."
"I love Ethan, father. I mean, I fell in love with him in just more than a month," Sam flushed after admitting.
"So you are only married in paper," Winfield probed.
"Yes." Both Samantha and Ethan answered.
"But we are planning to wed in January or February at the latest. We have yet to save the date," Ethan explained. "We have been busy lately after moving into our home."
"We prioritized getting married in paper so I can have the children's names changed into mine," reasoned Ethan. He reached for his laptop bag, which he had Edgar brought in, and inside were the documents to show Winfield.
"Everything you need to see is there; the DNA test which I took against Kenzie and Kyle, our marriage certificate, and the amendments to the children's names. All of which will prove that we are... really a family," added Ethan.
Winfield took a moment to study all the documents in his hands. He especially read the DNA test, wanting to see the truth for himself.
He shook his head and muttered, "What a... convenient coincidence that it was you whom Sam shared with that night."
"Yes, General, but the point is... what if it wasn't me? What if whoever was in that room had ill intentions," Ethan pointed out while clenching his hand. "It could have been worst, but luckily, it was me." "I would not even say it was luck since it brought Sam the most difficult years in her life, but at least... that night brought us together," Ethan said. He reached for Samantha's hand and added, "And I am very thankful that our paths had crossed during my visit to Monroe City."
After a moment of silence, Winfield told, "Well, if you had not removed all the video surveillance from the hotel, I would have found out who was the man my daughter shared the night with."
"Yes, and I am sorry for that, Sir, but I honestly thought it was a trick by Lance to get me laid. Lance had always tried to introduce me to one of his female friends... and as you know... Sam ditched me in the morning," Ethan reasoned.
Sighing heavily, Winfield muttered while resting back on his seat, "This is really for real."
"Yes, it is," answered Ethan.
Winfield Davis took another deep breath. He rested his forehead on his fist and ran his fingers through his chocolate-brown hair. He ogled on the floor for nearly a minute before he clarified, "And Annie clearly knew she lured you to getting pregnant."
"Yes, father. Even stepmother knew. Everything I told you then and now... is true. Back then, all you cared about was the fact that I got pregnant," Samantha finally spoke.
Her voice began to break as she added, "You have no idea how much I tried to explain things to you... You never believed me!"
"You have been listening only to Annie and my stepmother, not caring for the words of your own daughter." Samantha felt a tear roll down her face when she resumed, "I am your real daughter, but how come? How come you could not believe me or forgive me?"
"I was that same little girl whom you and mom took to the park occasionally. The same girl whom you tucked to bed! I was that same person whom you had high hopes for in the military, but why... why couldn't you see through all their lies and their schemes?" At that point, Samantha was already gasping for air.
She wound up being wrapped in Ethan's arms as she cried her frustrations. It took minutes for her to compose herself with her husband wiping her tears away.
Only then did Winfield finally spoke. He responded, "Sam. I don't know. My heart back then was filled with dismay." He looked straight into her eyes and added, "I was badly hurt and that may have made me blind to see the truth."
It was Winfield's turn to have watery eyes as he pleaded, "Forgive me... my daughter." His nose flared as he struggled to admit, "Amanda is right... I should not have abandoned you, for I am... I am your father."
More water streamed down the general's face as he slowly kneeled down before Samantha. He grabbed her hand and rested his forehead in her fist before revealing, "I did miss you, my daughter. I did... But at the same time, I kept thinking about my aspirations for you and how it all got crushed - "
"Those were your aspirations, father. I never wanted to be in the military," Samantha cut him off. "I only did it for you. All I ever wanted was to be a chef... And now, with my own hard work, I became one." Looking back into Samantha's eyes, Winfield said, "I'm sorry, Sam. Please forgive me. Please allow me to make up for my mistakes."
He reached for Samantha's face as Ethan slowly let go of his wife.
While Ethan gave them the space to converse, Winfield said, "The truth is, I endeavored not to ask about you at all."
Winfield sniffed his tears away before saying, "But my pride is really way up there... I could not bring myself to even find out about you."
"I know it won't be easy, but I'll - I'll make up for the lost times and be the father to you - the right father," he added. "Please, Sam. Please give me a chance."
Without warning, Samantha broke down in tears, flooding her face again. She thought this was all just a dream, and that with her father asking her forgiveness, would never happen.
She crashed into Winfield's arms and her chest heaved as she cried.
With Samantha's embracing him, Winfield Davis also wound up breaking down himself.
The howling of both father and daughter clearly echoed throughout the room. Their cries were so deafening, only their sobs could be heard in that same space.
"Dad - you - you don't know how long." Samantha cried some more before proceeding with her thoughts, "How long I have been wanting to hold you again." "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Sam," answered Winfield as he whimpered.