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“What’s this I see?” He turned her arms over and found blue and yellow smudges. “Last I recall, the paint’s supposed to go on the poster, not your arms.”

She giggled. “I know, Daddy. I’m just not as neat as you and Grandpa.”

He winked at her. “You’re neater than us in other ways. You pick up your clothes without me having to ask. And you put your dirty dishes in the sink. And you make your bed much better than I make mine. So see, you are neat. Besides, when I was your age, I’d have twice as much paint on me than you did. Maybe three times as much.”

“Really?”

“Really. Hey, how would you like to stop by Julie’s house tomorrow after school?”

“Can I help you with the shed?”

“Well, maybe. But first, Taylor needs to see you. She’s gonna make the prettiest dress for you and she needs you to try it on.”

Cassie put her head down. “Okay.”

“Hey, I told you she doesn’t blame you for anything. In fact, she’s excited to see you again.”

She poked her head up. “Really?”

“Yes, she thinks you’re pretty special. But then, I already knew that.”

Cassie punched him in the arm, a pretty good slug. “You have to say that, ’cause you’re my dad.”

“Ow, girl. Save that slugging for the batter’s box. And, yeah, I guess I have to say it, but it doesn’t make it any less true. C’mon, let’s go in and see what Grandpa’s got cooking on the stove.”

“Are you hungry…as a tiger?”

His eyes widened. Cassie loved playing this game. “You know I am.” He grabbed Cassie around the middle and lifted her up. She kicked her legs out and laughed her head off as he tickled her. “I’ve caught me a pretty delicious tiger right here, just in case Grandpa’s meal isn’t up to snuff, I’ll gobble her up.”

“No, no, you can’t do that!” Cassie giggled like crazy. “You’ll…lose your very best…first baseman.”

Her laughter filled his heart. There was not a better sound on earth.

“Oh yeah,” he said, finally putting her down. “Can’t do that. I need the star Tiger of the team.”

Cassie nodded, bobbing her head up and down, and then marched into the house with a wide grin on her face.

*

“This is verynice of you, Taye,” Julie said again as they got into her car.

They were off to Lindsey’s apartment to take a look at her wedding gown.

“It’s not a problem. I have the time. Everything is going smoothly here and I don’t mind helping her out if I can.”

“But you haven’t had time to work on your résumé and there’s that job opportunity that sounds perfect for you.”

It did sound perfect for her, but she was dragging her feet and she wasn’t sure why that was exactly. Was she afraid of failing again? Losing her job had made her gun shy, but she’d never been one to give up. She’d always found a way to achieve her goals. So, was she simply burnt out? Maybe she really needed this time to regain her confidence and unclutter her mind. “I know you’re right. I probably should clean up my résumé and send it out. I just… I don’t know, I feel a bit off right now.”

“Off? How?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe I just need this vacation.”

“Vacation? You’ve been working since you got here.”

“Doing what I love to do. So, it doesn’t really count as work.”

Julie pulled up to an apartment building in town and parked the car. “Well, here we are. Lindsey is thrilled you’re coming over.”