"Teri, honey, hold my hand, ok."
"Ok!"
"C'mere, Sweetie." He said as he took her small hand in his larger, defaced one.
The pair walked hand in hand down the paved path, her many little steps keeping up with each one of his strides. She looked all around in wonder at everything before her and he looked in wonder at everything little thing she did. When Teri smiled he couldn't help but smile too. She was so beautiful. Her grandmother would have been so happy.
Jack looked up and pushed the thought of his late wife away. The mirage of he and Teri together as proud, happy grandparents lately had been appearing in his mind and it was painful. That little Teri probably would have had a different name was one such thought that could not stay.
'Grampa Jack! Look!' Jack's face unconsciously lit up. Those words were a little shot of warm joy to his heart every time they came his way. He looked back down at her, happy to let his granddaughter occupy his attention once again.
Teri, bouncing on her toes, was pointing and laughing with high pitched delight.
'Polar bears.' he said with a smile.
She began to shout joyfully 'Come on Grampa!' and leaned forward as far as she could, pulling him towards her favorite animals. Jack was careful to hold tight to her hand to prevent her from falling forward onto the cement.
'Ok, sweetie I'm coming.' he told Teri as he walked behind her running steps while she tugged him down the path.
At the railing Jack picked her up so she could see the bears. They were swimming and playing with a big red ball.
'Grampa, look!'
'I see 'em.' Jack assured her.
'They have a beach ball!' she giggled.
Far more amusing to Jack than the bears was Teri's enchantment at them. Sure, he thought they were interesting and certainly he marveled at their power and size, but to him, right now, they did not compare to this little golden haired child. Secretly, he thanked them for giving her so much joy. If only they knew what they did for her by simply trying to grasp a giant floating ball.
Teri had moved from joyous commentary into silent amazement punctuated with giggles at the bear's silly antics.
'You like them?' Jack asked her, breaking into her bear watching reverie.
She turned her face to his and nodded enthusiastically, her golden hair bouncing as she did so.
He laughed. 'Me too.'