ell'

asked, eating cereal a

multi-tasking; eating cereal, her Smartphone to one side, and writing in

n, what ci

ron

e Can

immediately followed by, "

oing to have a lot of stupi

wentieth, two th

do you feel about dr

. "Are you sure you

with a smile, despite some nerv

forever so I don't forg..

can't hide wha

ey Range Rover. Since it wasn't dust-covered, I assumed it was mine. Oddly, when I sat in the driver's sea

the neighborhood. Michelle

n right. Up here on the left is my

d kids playing sports on a fiel

il you've adjusted. Besides, finals are ov

ka

asked, surprised.

grade ar

urt

ctronic gates, with tall, old trees, slowly gave way to smaller plots featuring ov

," Michelle

d dipped and r

to a beautifully maintained park of rolling

condos and small bungalows and semi-detached houses. The area was quite a mixture. But as soon as we turned back into the B

chen windows. Having seen photographs, I could see the resemblance to her mother; petite of stature, slender as a reed, delicate features. With the exception of her

g two plates in front of me. One had

o the kitchen table and sat. I took a bite o

sked, a fork of salad paus

is t

n mustard on dark rye. I

, putting mine back on t

ith yellow

I try

table. I took half of the white bread

der. "You've really chang

mm." Swallowing, I added, "That's what I

ugh, her smile like a million-watt spotlight.

yup. Mentally

leased me. It chased away the fear in her eyes and lit up her face. I might be s

do for hobbi

read a lot and gardened

ork long

you on weekends," she replied

ther for me - I observed, "It doesn't sound

N

y n

chewed, contemplating me. "After Mom

I said, not really liking wha

le shr

indow, I admired the crystal clear

nt to," sh

mean is, do

ed through her eyes. She smiled. "Ye

ume yo

ed, stil

lunch," I suggeste

ka

. We went to change. In the bedroom, I hunted throug

uit?" Waiting for a response, I yelled again,

chelle admonished quietly. "

asked, "Do you kn

om right drawer open, she reached back a

ank

e," she replie

e, teal bikini looked good. Her legs appeared to be longer, her b

wimming, it came instinctively. The water was the perfect temperature, warm yet cool, easing the heat from

r, I splashed her. Shock registered quickly followed by a broad smile and she laughed as she spl

reached out and shoved her head, pushing her underwater.

imed when I surfaced, then scr

into peace. Insects buzzed in the quiet. In the distance, a lawn

like a drin

ease. Di

the fridge and figured out how to work the ice

ow under a T-shirt. Her hips were narrow, just hinting at a mature shape, thighs tapered. And her bikini bot

cing her glass on the intr

ong hair out, then grabbed a

said, passing me a pale blue bath one. Sh

ally diffe

w s

ot as intense and seri

continued, "I know what you're

, wh

s probably wrong, but

le had given me sounded like I was a driven man, focused on work, and probably not much of a fathe

I forget everything that had happened since losin

I told her. Then, with a grin, added, "Besides, you'

of a goof now. I like it. Maybe

gged.

ored with so much gone. But there was one bright spot. I was pleased with Michelle. She'd relaxed. The fear in her eyes had gone. And I was discovering my daughter was a charming young

el. I could see myself eventually returning to work and finding out what I did, w