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girls. He had requested to spend time with her … to talk or go fishing. She was too fragile to accept. She thought Danny had suffered enough after his affair as well as from the gaggle of pursuing attorneys. His troubles had been potent but condensed into a compact time frame. Her blow wasn’t as sharp all at once - it lingered longer like a slow bleed. Her greatest comfort was her two teenagers. Though losing her oldest daughter, Melissa, had almost devastated her, at least Melissa hadn’t suffered through the upheaval of her parents separation and later divorce.
    Sara and the girls peeled out of their CRV in Mary Tilson’s driveway and headed to the front door. Annabel, the oldest girl, knocked and entered. She took off her baseball cap, laid it on the entry-way table, and crouched to greet Dakota who came bounding through the passageway. Sara and Nancy waited for Dakota to greet them, too.
    A jovial male voice sounded from the kitchen. “By Dakota’s response,” Casey shouted, “we know you aren’t a pack of burglars. Good timing because the master chef has kabobs on the grill.”
    Dakota swayed his tail back and forth and led them to the back where the big patio doors let the early evening light stream into the kitchen. Casey and Mary stood on opposite ends of the island but met Sara and the girls, giving them big hugs.
    “Hey, what’s the long look for?” Casey asked Nancy.
    “She always has a long look,” Annabel chimed in, flashing her auburn eyes at Casey.
    “Better than what you look like,” Nancy said.
    “Enough, girls,” Sara said.
    “It smells good out there,” Annabel said.
    “He’s a good cook,” Nancy said, “but Grandpa’s restaurant was better.” She straightened her hair and hid her ears because she thought they were too big. She rubbed Dakota’s back end which pushed against her legs.
    “Nancy,” Sara said, “will you please be polite!”
    “What, like Annabel?”
    “Oh, pleeease,” Annabel chimed.
    “You two better watch it,” Casey said. “I’m going to become your uncle, which will give me the right to ground you both.”
    “Casey, you already have my permission,” Sara said. “And you probably had Danny’s a long time ago.”
    Casey winked at Annabel who ran her tongue over her braces.
    “Okay, muscle man,” Mary said, “why don’t you check on our dinner? I need to show Sara and the girls some dress options for the wedding.”
    “Yes, gorgeous.” Casey put his hand into her mid-shoulder length hair, found her neck, and gave it a quick massage. “And despite what Miss Sulky says,” he said looking at Nancy, “my grilled dinner gets five stars.”
    Mary showed Sara and the girls the dresses she had in mind. “I personally like the brownish-purple color for Fall and the knee length,” Mary said pointing at side-by-side magazine pages. “We can do the elbow length sleeve if you all would like.”
    “I think these look fine,” Sara said. “I like the gathered fabric at the waistline. What do you think, girls?”
    “Cool,” Annabel said. “I’ll be able to wear it for Senior Prom next Spring, too.”
    Nancy snickered. “If it still fits you by then.”
    “I’ll fit in it when I’m twenty, egghead. I’m more active than you’ll ever be.”
    “Okay, if it’s settled,” Mary said, “I’ll buy them and you three need to get fitted soon.”
    “By the way,” Sara said, “you haven’t told us. Where are you going on a honeymoon?”
    “We’re talking about going to my previous stomping grounds in Alaska. Casey hasn’t been there. Besides, I still have artwork in a gallery which I need to decide about.”
    Annabel lowered her head. “Melissa would have been in college there by now, Mary.”
    “I know, sweetheart. I know.”
    ----------
    When Danny arrived home he found everyone eating dinner on the patio, including Sara. He opened a back door as Dakota anxiously awaited to greet him. “Hey, Dakota.” Danny rumpled Dakota’s wavy coat