Don drove up to the motel that Donna's aunt had given her for where her dad was staying. After Don parked the car, they walked to her dad's room. Excitement would be an understatement for the way Donna felt! Her heart was beating 90 miles an hour. Don could sense both her excitement and at the same time apprehension, so he held her close and reassured her everything would be okay.
They knocked on the door and Donna's dad appeared, quite older, as the years had been hard on him but when he saw Donna, tears streamed down his face and his beautiful blue grey eyes glistened just like they always had, along with that loving smile.
They must have embraced for five minutes or more before the tears between them slowed down enough for them to talk.
Donna's dad, Charles, said "my beautiful daughter! You are even prettier than I had imagined." "Dad, I'm so glad you're alive! I had resolved myself to never seeing you again on this side of life." "I was the same way Donna, that's why I made your aunt Debra tell you that I had hung myself so you wouldn't keep holding on. I guess I thought
you'd be better off without me." "Oh Dad, don't you know that you were always my hero! Even with your busy job, you seemed to always take the time to be with me. I loved mom but she was always up to her ears in building her company much more than building a relationship with me but Dad why did you have to kill her? Why didn't you just divorce her?" "Donna, your mother was a beauty and she loved me and every other man in a 250 mile radius! I honestly don't think she could have changed, it was just in her blood. When she had you, I thought she would change but she only seemed to get worse." "Dad, did you know I used to hear you and mom arguing late at night after you both thought I was in bed. I do miss her dad very much." "I'm so sorry for what I did to to you by shooting your mother and her new boss, well maybe not her boss!" "Now dad, did he have a family?" No, he wasn't married but one of the other men at your mom's company overheard him saying that he knew your mom had wondering eyes and he bet he could bag her and her company and maybe get half of her old man's money to boot if he could get her to divorce him. Of course, I wasn't told this until after I killed him. So it's kind of hard for me to feel much regret for him but he didn't deserve to die, even if he was a rat! Don hadn't said anything up until then but he had listened intensely to everything said. Don looked at Donna's dad and said "Looks like he's the one that got bagged! "Don Sanderson, shame on you!" "I'm sorry honey but I feel like he got his just desserts!" Mr. Smith, I'm Donna's boyfriend, Don Sanderson, I'm an attorney here in Dallas." Mr. Smith smiled and shook Don's hand. "Glad to meet you son!" By the way, do you two realize that your two names would be great names for twins." Hey that's right sir, Don and Donna Sanderson. I'd like for Sanderson to be Donna's last name one day also." Donna waited for the conversation to end before apologizing to Don and her dad for not introducing Don when they first came in and then she looked directly at Don and said Sanderson does have a pleasant ring to it some time in the near future. With that, Don smiled one of the biggest smiles Donna had ever seen him smile and announced "Who is hungry?" Of course everyone was, so Don let Mr. Smith pick the restaurant and it was to be Mexican food for all! Charles Smith had missed good authentic Mexican food for a long time. "
After dinner, Donna's dad seemed to be more relaxed and just happy to be alive. Don asked him if he could call him Charles, instead of Mr. Smith and he said he would like that very much. Donna smiled at the two of them because they seemed to get along well during dinner.
When the three of them got in Don's car, Donna asked her dad if he would like to spend the night at the lake house. He said he'd love to but would rather go back to the motel tonight and come out tomorrow evening. Besides, you two young people need to have some alone time to get reacquainted. You won't hear me complain, Don smiled. I thought not Don. I have a very beautiful daughter don't I?" "Yes, you do sir!" Donna interrupted the two of them by saying, do you two mind if I get in on this conversation?" Oh, okay
they both said in unison smiling.
After Don and Donna dropped her dad back at the motel, Don drove about a mile down.
the road and then pulled over and parked just long enough to hold Donna. He planted a kiss on her that she felt clear to her toes! When they came up for air, a policeman took his baton and motioned for Don to roll down the window. "License and registration Mr. Sanderson." "Wait, is that you Bill?" It is indeed Mr. Sanderson!" Why you old scoundrel you, You still chasing down couples who are out just trying to spend some good quality time together?" "If you mean young couples out fooling around, the answer is yes!" "Well sir, this young lady had something in her eye and I was just trying to get it out." "Son, last time I checked, folks usually checked in the area of the eye, not the mouth." "Donna, meet Officer Bill Williams, known for pulling me over and a lot if other college kids back in the day." Hello Ms. Donna, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you too, Officer Williams." Try to restrain lover boy here until you two get home, okay?" "Got you sir, and I will in the future." "Good to see you Don. "You too, Bill!"ô
As soon as the Officer left in his car, Don grabbed one more quick kiss from Donna with instructions to go home lover boy from Donna laughing the whole time.
Life was good once again!