"Yeah?"
"Can you reach that red crayon? It's way over there."
I stretch and grab it, hand it to her. She takes it with a bright smile.
"Thanks! You're really big and tall. That's good for reaching things."
"It comes in handy sometimes."
"And you have really big muscles. I bet you can carry really heavy stuff."
"I can carry pretty heavy stuff, yeah."
"Can you carry me?"
The question surprises me. "You want me to carry you?"
"Yeah! Mama says you're super strong. I wanna see!"
I glance at Joanna again. She nods, smiling.
"Okay," I say. "But we have to put the crayons away first, so they don't get lost."
"Deal!"
Daisy immediately starts gathering crayons with impressive efficiency. We get them all back in their box. Well, most of them; a few roll under the couch, and then she stands in front of me expectantly.
"Ready!"
I stand up, my knees grateful to not be folded anymore, and pick her up. She weighs nothing. Absolutely nothing. I could hold her all day and not feel it.
"Whoa," she breathes. "I'm so high up!"
"You are pretty high up."
"I can see everything! I can see the top of the fridge! Mama, I can see the top of the fridge!"
Joanna's laughing now. "That's pretty cool, baby."
"This is the best!" Daisy throws her arms around my neck. "You're like a giant! A nice giant!"
This little girl is hugging me. Trusting me. Calling me nice. I love it.
"Can we do tea party now?" she asks. "But you have to hold the tiny cups really gentle because they break easy."
"I'll be very gentle."
"And Mr. Flopsy has to come too."
"Of course. Can't have tea party without Mr. Flopsy."
She beams at me. "I like you, Danny. You're funny."
"I like you too, Daisy."
And I mean it. This tiny human with her sparkle crayons and her stuffed rabbit and her big questions about whether I'll stay, I already love her. It's that simple and that terrifying.
I look over at Joanna. She's watching us with tears in her eyes, smiling so wide it must hurt.
