Casey's jaw dropped. "But it's still dark outside!"
"That's when the real players train," I told her with a wink.
She sat up straighter, clearly filing that information away.
"So," Palisade said, her tone careful, "how does it work with your schedule? The games, I mean. With the Shadow Wolves season…"
"We're on the home stretch for the next few weeks," I said, understanding what she was really asking:Can you actually be present, or are you going to disappoint her?"I'll have to miss some games when we're on the road, but I'll make it to as many as I can."
"And you can call me after your games," Casey added helpfully. "Mom lets me stay up late when the Shadow Wolves play. We watch on TV, and I look for you."
The casual way she said it made my throat tight.
I looked at Palisade, who had suddenly become very interested in her plate.
"Maybe you should come to one of my games," I said quietly. "Not just watch on TV."
Palisade's eyes met mine, something complicated passing between us. "Maybe," she said softly.
"Can we go together?" Casey asked, bouncing in her seat. "Like a family?"
The words hung in the air between us.
Family.
We weren't that. Not really. Not yet. Maybe never in the way Casey imagined.
But looking at Palisade across the table, at Casey between us with sauce on her chin and hope in her eyes, I wanted to be.
"We'll see, sweetheart," Palisade said gently, reaching over to wipe Casey's face with her napkin.
Casey attacked her remaining food with renewed enthusiasm, and I caught Palisade watching me with something tender in her expression. With a mix of gratitude and regret, I didn't fully understand.
"What?" I asked quietly while Casey was distracted.
"Nothing," she said, but there was something soft in her eyes. "You're… you're good with her."
"I'm trying."
"I can see that." She paused, then added even more quietly, "Thank you. For being here. For not…" She stopped, biting her lip, and glanced at Casey.
For not disappearing,I filled in silently.For not running when things got hard.
"I'm not going anywhere," I said, holding her gaze. "I meant what I said. I'm her father. I want to be her father."
"I know," Palisade said, and for the first time since this all exploded, I saw belief in her eyes. Not just hope. Belief.
Casey finished her last bite and held up her empty plate triumphantly. "Done! Can we practice now?"
I looked at Palisade, who checked the clock.
"Twenty minutes," she said. "Then bath and bed."
"Deal!" Casey was already pushing back from the table.
As I followed her toward the back door where her practice net was set up, I caught Palisade's eye one more time.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For dinner. For… all of this."
