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Soon they were all introduced and sitting in the backyard, where Tina started to kick a soccer ball around with Ben.
"Try to get it past me, kiddo!" she called after setting up some empty plant pots for goal markers.
"She's so beautiful, Daniel!" Cassandra grinned.
"Sure doesn't take after me," he laughed.
She could see it in his eyes then, and then Daniel realized that he hadn't told her about his wife. She wasn't about to push him, but she could see it was on his mind as he watched the children get to know each other and play. Dusk was falling, and she waited patiently as he found the words.
"She looks just like Candace," he uttered.
Cassandra reached out and touched his hand but said nothing.
"I didn't know how to drop it into conversation before but, Tina's mother died when she was five years old."
"I'm so sorry; it must have been very hard for you both."
"It was really hard, especially at first. I wasn't sure if I'd be enough for her."
"You obviously were, though. She's an incredible person, Daniel. I can see already how kind and mature she is."
"She's what kept me putting one foot in front of the other in the early days," he smiled, watching Tina chasing Ben and then pretending to run away from him like she was scared.
He realized how well they'd done together. He and Tina had been through something that could have taken them down, but they had survived.
After running around till she was out of breath, Tina settled down next to Cassandra and began to ask her about Atlanta. Tina had been a few times but asked about how it was to live there.
"It's really great; there are so many places to go, things to see and great shopping," Cassandra grinned. "I worked as an art director, but I'm doing a lot of my work online now."
"Why would you ever move here?" Tina laughed.
"I kind of had to . . . it's a long story."
"I'm taking a babysitting course this week," Tina added, changing the subject when she realized it was an awkward territory.
"That's great! I'm in the market for a responsible young lady to babysit," Cassandra broached.
"Really?" Tina asked wide-eyed.
"Of course. Your father has nothing but great things to say about you, and I can see how good you are with Ben already."
"Yes!" Tina chirped.
She wandered off to play with Ben again, and Daniel came closer to wrap his arm around Cassandra.
"You're a miracle, you know that?" he sighed.
"So are you . . . I still need to talk to you; there are things I should have told you already."
"Honey, you can tell me anything," Daniel insisted.
"Maybe tonight after the kids are in bed we could talk on the phone about it."
"Whatever you need."
"Sometimes I get a little emotional talking about it, and I don't want to upset Ben."
"That's fine."
