Erma Hamilton - When Daddies Go to Heaven

When
Dadd ies
Go to He aven

Erma Hamilton

Copyright 2016 Erma Hamilton.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-6505-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-6506-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016914480

Balboa Press rev. date: 09/16/2016

I dedicate this book to my daddy, Morgan, and my mama, Fran. I love and miss you both every single day.

Lori Ann rushed home from school. She could not wait to show her daddy what she made for him. She knew he would be waiting to hear all about her day. You see, Lori Anns daddy had been really sick for a while and had not been able to go to work or even go out to play. So he really looked forward to hearing about the fun stuff she had done and what she had learned in school.

Daddy, Daddy, Im home from school! Lori Ann yelled as she ran inside, letting the front door slam behind her.

Lori Ann, please quiet down! her mommy told her. Your daddy is taking a nap. And how many times have I told you to not let the door slam behind you?

Im sorry, Mommy. I thought Daddy would be awake waiting for me, said Lori Ann.

I know, honey, but he has been really tired today. I am sure he will wake up soon and will love to hear all about your day, said her mommy. Now go upstairs and change into your play clothes.

Okay, Mommy, said Lori Ann as she excitedly ran up the stairs.

Lori Ann was putting on her favorite play clothes. She really loved her blue jean shorts and pink top with blue and purple butterflies on it. She really liked the butterflies a lot. The butterflies also had little sparkles on their wings. She liked the way they danced when the light hit them. The shirt always made her daddy smile too. She just finished getting dressed when she heard her mommy calling her.

Lori Ann, your daddy is awake now and waiting for you!

Im almost done, Mommy. Ill be there in just a minute, said Lori Ann.

Lori Ann happily ran down the stairs. Hi, Daddy! she exclaimed.

Hi, Princess. Her daddy called her Princess because he always said her big blue eyes and long brown hair reminded him of a little princess. How was school today? he asked her.

I had so much fun today, Daddy! We got to paint pictures! See, Daddy, I made this for you. Its a picture of me and you and Mommy at the beach where we went last summer, said Lori Ann.

It is beautiful, Princess. You did a wonderful job, he told her.

See, Daddy? Its you and me making a sand castle just like we did at the beach. Maybe we can do that again this summer. Okay, Daddy?

Lori Anns daddys eyes welled up with tears.

Whats the matter, Daddy? Why are you sad? she asked him in a quiet voice.

Lori Ann, please come sit by me. I need to talk to you for a minute.

Okay, Daddy. She walked over and sat on his bed very gently so as not to hurt him. He sometimes was very sore and in pain, so she really tried to be very careful.

Princess, he said, you know Ive been sick for a while now.

I know, Daddy. But you will get better soon, right? she asked.

Im afraid not, Princess, he said quietly.

Lori Ann could feel her little eyes filling up with tears. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldnt hold them back.

Dont cry, Princess, her daddy said, hugging her. She held onto him really tight. She did not want to let him go.

Remember when we talked about angels and where they live, Princess? her Daddy asked her.

Yes, Daddy. The angels live in heaven, she answered.

Thats right, he said. Remember how we talked about heaven being a magical place?

Yes, I do, Lori Ann said.

Princess, Im going to get to live in heaven with the angels really soon.

No, Daddy! I dont want you to go! Lori Ann said, now crying even harder.

I know, Princess, but I have to go, her daddy whispered as he tried to comfort her.

Why, Daddy? asked Lori Ann.

The angels really need my help.

Help with what? asked Lori Ann.

They need my help creating the magic in heaven, her daddy told her.

Why cant they get someone elses daddy to do it? asked Lori Ann.

Because every daddy has to take a turn, and now it is my turn.

Do you know what one part of the magic is in heaven?

No, Daddy, what?

It is that we can still watch over our loved ones and be a part of their lives.

What do you mean, Daddy? Lori Ann asked.

I mean that I will be watching over you and Mommy like a guardian angel.

A guardian angel? asked Lori Ann.

Yes, a guardian angel.

And do you know what else? Ill always find ways to let you know that Im thinking about you.

You will? she asked.

Yes, I will.

How will you do that, Daddy?

Well, you may have a wonderful dream about us playing at the beach like in your painting. Youll know its me saying hello. Or you may see a butterfly dancing like the one on your shirt and know it is a sign that Im there with you.

Theres another magical thing about heaven, too. You can still talk to me, and Ill be able to hear you.

You will? she asked.

Yes, I will. And Princess, I want to make sure that you know one very important thing.

What is it, Daddy?

Ill love you as much when I move to heaven as I do now, and I always will love you now and forever.

Ill always love you now and forever too, Daddy, but I still dont want you to go.

I know, Princess, he whispered, hugging her tightly and kissing her forehead. I wish I never had to let go. I hope youll always remember this moment and forever feel my love even after Im gone. Heaven really needs my help, he said.

Lori Ann tried to go through each day as best as a young girl knows how. She really hoped her daddy would change his mind about leaving for heaven. She also tried to spend as much time with her daddy as she could. She would even sit near him when he was sleeping. It made her feel like she was helping him somehow.

A couple of weeks later, Lori Ann came home from school excited to show her daddy the new painting that she drew in school. She burst through the door as she always did, shouting, Daddy, Im home from school!