Sophie stopped several feet away.
Luke did not approach.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
She looked at him.
“You’re shorter than Dad.”
Luke laughed.
Daniel almost did too.
“Most people are.”
Sophie smiled.
They sat.
Conversation came awkwardly.
School.
Soccer.
Books.
Then Hannah.
Luke told Sophie things Daniel did not know.
That Hannah once tried to learn guitar and quit after four days.
That she hated bananas but liked banana bread.
That she used to sing loudly in the car despite having no ability to stay on key.
Sophie looked toward Daniel.
“You never told me that.”
“I didn’t know.”
The sentence felt strange.
Good strange.
Luke possessed pieces of Hannah Daniel did not.
Daniel possessed others.
Neither had to own the whole woman.
After an hour Sophie stood.
“I’m done.”
Luke nodded immediately.
“Okay.”
No complaint.
No request for five more minutes.
That mattered.
Sophie looked at him.
“Can I hug you?”
Luke stopped breathing.
“Yes.”
She stepped forward.
The hug lasted perhaps three seconds.
Luke did not hold too tightly.
Then she returned to Daniel.
“Ready?”
Daniel nodded.
As they walked away, Sophie took his hand.
She had almost stopped doing that.
He tried not to react.
In the car she looked out the window.
“How was it?”
Daniel asked.
“Weird.”
“Good weird?”
“Medium weird.”
“That is highly specific.”
“He smells like peppermint.”
Daniel laughed.
“Important.”
“He does laugh like me.”
“Yes.”
“Did that bother you?”
Daniel thought.
“A little.”
Sophie looked over.
“Still human?”
“Unfortunately.”
She smiled.
Then became serious.
“You know you’re still Dad.”
Daniel stared ahead because his eyes filled instantly.
“Yeah.”
“I’m not changing it.”
“I know.”
“You look like you’re crying.”
“Allergies.”
“It’s snowing.”
“Winter allergies.”
“You’re impossible.”
He smiled.
Life became larger instead of replacing one relationship with another.
Luke remained Luke.
Daniel remained Dad.
Carol became Grandma Carol slowly.
Caleb remained mostly outside Sophie’s life.
That was her choice.
When she was fourteen, he sent another letter asking whether she ever wanted contact.
She replied:
Maybe later.