Page 11 of Soldier Daddy’s Dutiful Little

The caller ID read, Davies. Okay, not another woman then.

The look on his face was rather apprehensive and I got a bit worried about who this Davies was and what he had to say. I watched Oscar pick the call with a strained expression, his lips drawn into a taut line.

Whoever it was, it must have been something really important for his reaction to be like this. I gingerly placed my hand over his that was drumming fingers nervously on the table. He stopped and have my hand s gentle squeeze. I felt better, at ease when he did that.

The call ended and I could not tell if Oscar was happy or not. Then he broke into a large smile.

“They were able to obtain and verify the hit-man's confessions and warrants have been issued for the arrest of those involved. I’m just learning I have an uncle who somehow is involved in all of this,” he sighed, adjusting his tie to give more room around his neck.

“Wow, Oscar. That’s…”

“The court hearing is on Friday.”

I blinked rapidly. “This Friday?”

“Yeah, this Friday. I’d need you to come with me too, if you don’t mind. I could use a proper emotional support system,” he winked and flashed me his set of perfect dentition.

How does one say no to her Daddy? I definitely was going to be there to hold his hand throughout the hearing till when those murderers have been convicted.

“Vanessa. There’s something else I’d like to mention.”

The way he suddenly became even more serious actually scared me a bit. “What’s that?”

“I could get deployed for an assignment anytime. The processing of my discharge papers didn’t quite go through as planned. I’d have liked to stay here with you, be here for you…”

“I understand. I actually do. And it’s fine, really.”

We held hands across the table, finishing the rest of our meal in silence. I was processing what I just heard and…it was hard. He’d be away from me soon? For how long? Those were thoughts too painful for me to ignore.

I held the tears in till I was back alone in my office and kept a neutral face on the way back. The thought of Oscar having to leave soon…made the rest of the week seem to disappear really quickly.

Friday seemed to pull up quickly and I did not forget the plans I had with my Daddy. He stopped by at my apartment in Queens to take me with him for the hearings.

His grey pinstripe suit was well tailored and it was hard to just admire him without the nagging thought of him leaving piercing my heart. It hurt, yet, it was pleasurable to look at him, to be held by him; so when he came knocking, the first thing I did was to throw myself at him and he sure as hell caught me.

We hugged for a long time, his hand holding my head close to his chest. He kissed the tears that found their way down my face. He must have sensed my change in demeanor since Monday when he told me about leaving.

“I may leave for a while, but I’d always come back, I promise. I promise, Vanessa.”

I tilted my head to see his face, lips quivering. “Are you sure?”

He wiped my face with a very soft hankie he happened to have in his trouser pocket. “Yes, I’m sure, my princess.”

Hours later when we heard the presiding judge say he found the murderers– the hit-man’s sponsors, a former business associate of my father, and my uncle, an accomplice to the crime– guilty, and proclaimed their judgement, Oscar held my hand so tightly I thought it would break.

After a hurried greeting of his lawyer and the private investigator he hired, we dashed to the car. I could feel him losing grip on holding back the emotions that were welling up within him. Scarcely had I closed the passenger door when he pulled me in for a long kiss.

Both our faces were wet and salty and it wasn’t from sweat. I was really glad he got this off his chest and could now progress to further healing but wished intently that he didn’t have to return to the base.

I wasn’t sure I could bear being away from him for yet another long time, I knew it was killing him too. Words however, could only do so much. A lot was said in that kiss. It was one of reassurance, comfort and hope.

This was why when I woke up Saturday morning to find him gone, with a note saying he had left for Virginia where he was to pick up the details of his next assignment, I was not too heartbroken. It hurt a lot, I had to confess but I was more than willing to wait for his return.

EPILOGUE

It had been exactly two weeks since Oscar left and I terribly missed him. I was fine but had to have Cheryl hold me to sleep. It was hard, without him.

She had cleaned the apartment and I was only to take out the trash. I lost interest in cleaning or cooking, so a lot of fast food packs littered the house. Cheryl saw my despondent state when she came to Queens on a visit and offered to clean after giving me a rousing pep talk that made me feel a lot better.