CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Sleeply, Sam wrapped his arms around Mattie and pulled her close. ‘Thank God I’m already facing him,’ she mused. “Hi, Sweetheart.” Mattie pressed her lips to his.

“What? Mattie? What are you doing here?” Sam glanced at the clock over Mattie’s shoulder. “It’s midnight, Mattie, and you’re…” He gingerly felt her body under the covers.” “…naked.”

Mattie pressed her finger to his lips to silence him. “No, Mattie. You have always said you wanted to wait till we got married for any sexual intimacy.”

“I’ve spent at least the last five hours re-evaluating my standards. Erika snuck out on the family party, and I was so pissed that Mom wouldn’t let me come see you that I ratted her out.”

“Wow! I can’t think of anything better than wow.”

“Mom always tells me how good Erika is and that I should be more like Erika. Well, on my way over I toyed around with the idea of loosening my standards. This is where it led me. If you want me to get dressed and leave…”

“No! Are you completely …?”

“Completely. Come here and kiss me. Just remember, if I tell you to stop..”

“I’ll stop.” Sam drew Mattie into his arms and kissed her.

At 4:00 AM, Sam and Mattie lay asleep in each other’s arms. Sam’s mother had been up for the last half hour making a special breakfast for Sam when the doorbell rang.

“Good morning, Mrs. Petterson.”

“Good morning, Sergeant. Sam, I believe, is still asleep. He said you weren’t picking him up until 5:00 this morning.”

“That’s what we tell the new recruits. Then, we show up to wake them at the time they will be up in boot camp. If you will tell me where his room is, I’ll let you get back to cooking.”

Nancy looked at the bowl of pancake batter in her hand and giggled. She hadn’t realized she was still holding it. “His door is the first one on your left in the basement. This is the basement door,” she directed as she opened the door. “Would you like some breakfast as well, Sergeant?”

“Thank you, Ma’am.” His voice trailed down the stairs. He reached for the door. As he opened it, he bellowed the greeting Sam would hear for the next several weeks. “Rise and shine, Recruit Petterson.” As he reached to pull the bed covers down, Mattie shrieked. “Oh, shit! I’m sorry ma’am. I didn’t know.”

Mattie grabbed her clothes and backpack and jetted to the basement bathroom.

“I’m sorry, son.”

“That’s ok.” Sam grabbed his robe and exited to the bathroom. Trying the doorknob he found it locked. “Mattie, let me in.” His calm voice convinced her to open the door.

Hearing the commotion, Nancy descended the basement stairs. She hadn’t realized that Mattie had come over. “Mattie, how long have you been here?” Aware of the awkward silence, she continued. “Would you like to stay for some breakfast?”

“Mrs. Petterson, I’m sorry. I should really be getting home.” She turned to Sam. “Call me when you can and write me so I have your address.” She reached up to hug him good-bye. “I love you.”

Sam wrapped his arms tightly around her and lowered his lips to hers. As they separated the kiss, he whispered in her ear. “No regrets?”

“No regrets,” she quietly reassured him.

WORD COUNT –
CHAPTER 1 = 891
CHAPTER 2 = 1,037
CHAPTER 3 = 597
CHAPTER 4 = 560
TOTAL = 3085