"Tuck me in, Daddy?" asked little Catie Liz.
"Sure thing, sweetie," said Dad. He bent down, and tucked the covers around his little girl. He then turned for the door.
"Daddy?" she asked.
"Yes, Catie?"
"Can you tell me a story about Mommy?"
He sat down on her bed. "What would you like to know about her, baby?"
She contemplated this for a moment. "Did she love me?"
Brushing her hair away from her face, he said, "Yes, she loved you very much."
"Did she love Emily, too, Daddy?" she asked.
"Of course she did, sweetie," he said, as she jumped on the bed. Rubbing her face against Catie's, she purred. Catie rubbed her tiny hands up and down Emily's fur.
"What did she look like?" she finally asked.
"Mommy?" Catie shook her head. "Well, she was very pretty. She had wavy brown hair and lovely brown eyes."
"Did she look like me?" she asked, growing curious.
"She had your nose!" he said, and tickled it. She laughed.
"How could she have my nose, Daddy?"
He laughed. "It's just an expression, sweetie. You look so much like her, Catie; you'd be surprised if you saw a picture. You only have my hair and eyes, baby."
"And your temper!" she said, giggling.
"Now who told you that?" he asked, trying to hide a grin.
"Auntie Ginny! Auntie Ginny!" she said, excited.
"Oh she did, did she?" he asked.
She nodded her head.
"Well, we'll have to see about that next time we see her then!" he said, tickling her some more.
"Stop! Stop!" she screeched happily.
"Alright, alright, you win!" he said, and stopped. "You're so much like her, Catie. I'll try and find a picture for you, sweetie. I'll try my hardest for you."
She yawned. "Good night, Catie Liz, sleep tight; don't let the bed bugs bite!"
Yawning again, she said, "Sweet dreams, Daddy."