Mommy, Where Is Daddy? The Forsaken Daughter's Return novel Chapter 51

It was already after dinner that Samantha received another invitation from Amanda. This time, they went to the study area for a talk.

"Sam, I'm so happy that I kept my memory of Sarah all these years," revealed Amanda. She held a cardboard box, containing albums of old pictures and a flash drive that included memories of Sarah Turner Davis, Samantha's mother.

Amanda sat next to Samantha and explained, "These are some photos and videos on the flash drive. These are some of the old events where Sarah and I went together as friends are there... at least the ones that I recorded."

She grabbed a photo album and flipped it open. Pointing to the first photo, she said, "This was during our first year in college. We enjoyed taking pictures around the campus, even as we attend football games. We were always together! It felt like we were twins!"

"Wow... She is so beautiful and so vibrant!" Remarked Samantha, looking at her mother's picture as a young lady.

"You look just like her," described Amanda with a smile. "She was kind and pure-hearted. She always saw the good in other people. And that's why I loved her so much."

Amanda pointed to another picture and added, "We went to the parks together and had overnighted at our house before. We went to the beach together." With a sigh, she added, "What can I say, we were inseparable."

She chuckled and told, "Even after I met Daniel in our senior years in college. She was a constant third wheel, but back then, Daniel did not mind."

"Of course that slightly changed when she met your father," Amanda did not seem pleased with this part of her story, giving a sneer. "She always loved a man in uniform."

"Anyway, Sam." Amanda placed the box on Samantha's lap and said, "I want you to have these. Know about your mother. She died when you were about ten or eleven - I think. If I am not mistaken. You probably have very little know-how of your mother since Winfield remarried."

The words of Amanda made Samantha nostalgic.

The truth was, as she grew older and with her father having re-married, memories of her mother were kept in the storage area, some even thrown away.

Samantha's stepmother had tried to cover-up for Sarah's absence that she had slowly forgotten how it felt like. She only realized how it was wrong for her stepmother to take Sarah's belongings away from her when she was much older and when she could no longer find her mother's photos and possessions.

"Thank you. I really appreciate this, Mother," Samantha told while looking at one picture of her mother and Ethan's mother. She smiled and declared, "You really are... best of friends."

"Of course, Sam. And that's why I consider you my daughter," suggested Amanda. "And! What a great coincidence that you are... my daughter-in-law now!"

Putting a hand on her chest, Amanda announced, "I am the happiest that you came back into my life, our little Sami." She leaned over and revealed, "I named you, by the way. I was the one who suggested naming you, Samantha."

"Oh, and you named me, Sami," Samantha answered with a chuckle.

"Yes! That's right!" Acknowledged Amanda.

In the minutes that passed, Samantha took some time to ask Amanda about her mother before acting to leave and it was then that Amanda asked, "Do you mind asking Ethan to come and see me before you leave, Sam? I have something to tell him."

"Of course, Mother. I'll call Ethan," Samantha answered while getting up from her seat and walking away with the box of memories in her arms.

It took just five minutes for Ethan to join Amanda, and with his mother's instructions, Ethan locked the doors behind him.