"Come on, Darce! Hurry up, it's cricket time," yelled the nineteen-year old.
"But Uncle Case, I don't think that's a good idea," stated Darcy, attempting to hiding the smile threatening to cover her face.
Casey, of course, knew what she was playing at but would do anything to make her happy, so he decided to play along. "Oh, really? And why is that?"
"Because when I win as champion, you'll cry and it's not nice to make little girls upset,"
"Oh, well you know what champions get, then?"
"A medal,"
"No, they get tickles!"
Before Darcy could even stand up from her seat in the backyard, Casey had her over his shoulder, tickling her feet. She tried hopelessly to break free of what Casey had now dubbed 'tickle torture' but was too busy laughing to succeed.
Heath and his brothers watched from afar with their girlfriends, smiling. The bond that Casey and Darcy had formed was something more like a brother-sister than uncle-niece relationship. Casey brought out the cheeky and confident side of Darcy which the family loved. They all also knew that although Casey was an amazing uncle, he would be an incredible father someday.
Darcy came running up to the group of them, laughing, "help! Casey's gonna get me!"
"Oh, I don't know, Darce. I can't see Case..." Heath said, cheekily, before Casey came running and scooped Darcy up, putting her on his shoulders.
"Put me down!" Darcy giggled.
"Ah, I don't know. I feel like going for a swim...and I'm taking you with me!" Casey answered, grabbing Darcy's bathers and towels for them both, him already prepared in his boardies..
Before Darcy could get a word out, they were off to the beach, Casey running with Darcy on his back.
Heath watched from a distance as once Darcy had her bathers on, Casey grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up onto his shoulders this time. Bolting towards the water, Casey carried Darcy as she screamed with joy. The sounds of splashing, playful screaming and laughter echoed through the bay as the sun set in the distance. And it was those kinds of moments where Heath was glad to be a Braxton.
