SWNOVELS Chapter 84: Kiss The Girl
"I have often dreamed of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome would be waiting for me
Where the crowds would cheer, when they see my face
And a voice keeps saying this is where I'm meant to be"~
Beneath the spotlight, a man in his military uniform held his daughter's hand and waist.
The proud general Winfield danced with Samantha, slowly moving to another Disney tune of 'I Can Go The Distance.'
As Samantha looked at her father with a smile, resting her hand on his shoulder, she heard Winfield say, "You look so happy, Sam. I've never seen you happier in your life."
Samantha's eyes twinkled. Her smile widened before she admitted, "I am, Dad, but while I am happy, I'd wish you and Mom were okay."
"We are okay," answered Winfield with confidence. He turned to where Sarah was sitting and smiled at her. "She is... at least not avoiding me."
Seconds passed and as the song progressed, Samantha tightened her hold against her father, relaxing her head on his chest. She revealed, "Back in Monroe, I always wondered when we will embrace each other this way."
"I'm so glad we are back to the way it was, Dad," Samantha added, smiling at the crowd, looking in their direction. "It was just a few months ago that I thought this would never happen."
Like Samantha, Winfield held his daughter closer. He shut his eyes while pecking on her forehead. He caressed her golden hair and said, "Sam, I really am sorry for all my mistakes -
"Dad, we are over this conversation and I accept your shortcomings, the same way you have accepted mine," Samantha interrupted her father's thoughts. "It's not yet too late, Dad, and you have been trying your best you got Mom back."
Samantha glanced in her mother's direction and saw how Sarah was smiling back at them. She could tell how happy Sarah was about the development of her relationship with her father.
Looking up to Winfield, she said, "After our dance, Dad... you should ask to dance with Mom. Tell her about your plans."
"I plan to," Winfield answered. "Your mother looks so beautiful today."
"And you! You are so handsome in your uniform," encouraged Samantha. "Win her heart again, Dad."
Soon enough, the emcee announced how the dance floor was open for everyone to join in.
Ethan walked back in, seeing how the father and daughter danced had concluded. He took Samantha's hand and sailed along with the crowd.
The song from the Pocahontas movie played; 'If I Never New You.'
While a few of Ethan's relatives, join in the dance, Winfield walked straight to Sarah, offering his hand. He asked, "Can I have this dance with my wife?" Sarah wound up looking at her daughter, who only had eyes on her. She saw the encouraging nod coming from Samantha and she smiled.
She understood how Samantha had longed for her and Winfield to get along. Turning to Winfield, she said, "Sure."
Slowly and carefully, Winfield and Sarah danced alongside the couple. They swayed until the end of the song, occasionally looking at each other.
"Nice to see you both dancing," remarked Amanda, dancing with her husband Daniel.
"Mom, Dad. You both look so good together," remarked Samantha, winking at her mother. Sarah imposed a smile at the suggestion of her daughter, shifting her gaze back to Winfield.
"Remember how we met?" Winfield asked Sarah.
"How could I not," responded Sarah. Their school was invited to a military dance festival, and that was how she met Winfield. Like that time, he asked her for a dance and she fell madly in love with him since. "Sarah, I - I applied for an early retirement," told Winfield. "I wanted to spend more time with you and Sam, considering all the time that we have lost."
Winfield unwittingly pulled Sarah closer to his torso and said, "If you allow me, I wanted to make up for everything and hope you'll come back to our home." His eyes were glued to Sarah's blue eyes as he resumed his thoughts, "I am still your husband and you are my wife. To have and to hold, till death do us part." The reminder of their vows made Sarah scoff. She asked, "Are you pressuring me?"
"Not at all," Winfield briefly answered. "Just hoping that would make you decide."
They resumed to dance before Winfield tried again. He softly said, "Sarah, please come back to me."
Sarah's brows knitted. She flickered her eyes before she told, "I was really hurt Winfield. All my life, I only loved you and then I find out you married the woman who had tried to kill me."
"Shhhh." Her words prompted Winfield to embrace her fully, allowing Sarah to rest her face on his chest. He said, "I will forever regret and hate that part of me, Sarah. I badly want to forget about that.... If you let me, we can move on from here."
"Sarah, I still love you. I don't want to talk about Catherine anymore. All I can promise is that she will be dealt with - punished with every power I have left before my retirement," he added.
Sarah ended up crying, staining his uniform. She asked unwittingly, "Can everything go back to the way it was?"
"We won't know unless we try, Sarah." Winfield took the chance to press his face against the side of Sarah's face and said, "Please, Sarah. Don't give up on me."
Sarah's fingers clenched against his back. She closed her eyes, savoring the scent of her husband. She was suddenly reminded how she always liked a man in uniform. Moreover, the manly whiff of her husband.
In each song that passed, she thoroughly thought about his request for minutes. She just stayed there, leaning on his chest, thinking deeply.
"Okay," Sarah finally answered. She gradually let go of Winfield's hold and looked up at him. "I'll go back to staying with you... after Sam and Ethan returns from their honeymoon."
Winfield let out a sigh of relief, closing his eyes while he was at it. He pursed his lips and answered, "Thank you, Sarah. Thank you so much."
Without warning, Winfield hugged Sarah again. He was holding her so tight that he could feel the drumming of heart. He repeated, "I promise you won't regret it. I'll make it up to you." Next to them, Samantha smiled at how her parents embraced. She turned to Ethan, and they both nodded, knowing that Winfield and Sarah are slowly mending their wounds.
While couples were swaying their hips on the dance floor, the music shifted to little mermaid's 'Kiss The Girl.'
It brought giggles around the dance floor, but it was a perfect romantic song to ignite some romance.
"There you see her
Sitting there across the way
She don't got a lot to say
But there's something about her
And you don't know why
But you're dying to try
You want to kiss the girl"-
Ethan and Samantha eagerly pecked, encouraging the other couples to follow.
Amanda and Daniel did not also hesitate to share a kiss on the dance floor, making Sarah feel completely awkward.
When Kyle and Kenzie joined in the dance, they pecked on each other's cheeks, giving a sibling kiss. Only then did Kyle turn to Winfield and Sarah. He asked, "Why does grandpa not kiss grandma?" "It's just a kiss, grandma," Kenzie said with a smile.
The words of the children made Amanda and Samantha chuckle, but Sarah ended up flushing. She turned her attention back to Winfield, reluctantly looking back into his eyes.
The next thing she saw was her husband leaning forward and for no apparent reason, she froze.
As soon as Winfield's lips touched hers, Sarah felt chills down her spine. It had been too long since she felt her husband's kiss.
When Winfield pulled away, she took a deep breath and just crashed into her husband's chest. She did not know how to react to his kiss. She could not deny it felt good, but she was too ashamed to admit it. She then heard Kenzie say, "See, grandma. It wasn't so bad."
Kenzie smiled then added, "But there is a limit for adults to kiss."
Once again, those who heard Kenzie laughed, and the newly wedded couple shook their heads at their children.