The next day, morning sun shining in bright through the windows, Craig came downstairs in jeans and a t-shirt, sliding on the wood floor with his socks.

"Morning," Joey said, and Angela raced by.

"Good morning," Craig said, and shuffled into the kitchen for some cereal. The phone rang and Joey answered it.

"Hello?" Craig could tell by the carefully blank look on Joey's face that it was his dad.

"Yeah, just a minute. Hold on," Joey handed him the phone.

"Craig, listen, I got called into work today…I can't make dinner tonight. How about sometime this week?"

"Yeah, sure, that's fine," Craig said, watching Joey watching him.

"Good. I'll call you sometime this week when I know for sure what day is good. Craig, I love you,"

"I love you , too, dad," he hung up the phone and went back to his cereal. Joey was still watching him.

"What was that about?" Joey said.

"Nothing,"

"Oh, really? It kind of sounded like you were talking about seeing him,"

"Well, I wasn't. Okay?"

"Okay,"

Later that day Joey stopped over at Snake's.

"Hey, Joey Jeremiah," Snake said, eating something with chopsticks that looked vaguely Japanese.

"Hi, Snake,"

"What's up?" Snake said, the food between the chopsticks dangling between the plate and his mouth.

"Not much. Well, it's Craig. I think he's planning on seeing his father, if he hasn't already,"

Snake was quiet for a minute, ate his bite of food, looked out the window.

"You don't want him to?"

"No, I don't. It's too soon, it's…it's dangerous,"

"Joey, it's been nine months, they've only spoken on the phone. Don't you think it might be time for Craig to see his father again?"

Joey looked down, his expression dark.

"Maybe," he said without conviction, "maybe,"

Sunday. Quiet night at home. Angela colored in a coloring book on the floor, the chicken pox spots slowly disappearing. Craig sat on the couch and watched T.V.

"Ang, time for bed," Joey said.

"Noooooo,"

"Yeah. C'mon. You're still sick. Go up and brush your teeth and I'll be up to tuck you in in a minute,"

"Okay," She came over and pecked him on the cheek, and then she went over to Craig and kissed his cheek. He smiled at her absently.

"Goodnight, kid," he said.

When she had gone upstairs and he heard the water running he broached the subject with Craig.

"Craig, I'm not going to be mad, but I want you to tell me the truth. Are you planning on seeing your dad?"

Craig looked down, he had that guilty deer in the headlights type look. He swallowed hard but didn't answer.

"Craig?" He was like Julia in this way. Kept things to himself. It was pulling teeth to get any information.

"Yeah, I was," he looked up at Joey suddenly and there was this challenge in his expression, like he was daring Joey to say anything, daring him to stop him.

"I thought so. Craig, I want to talk to Albert before you see him. I'm a little nervous about this idea, but it might be time you saw him. Just let me talk to him first. Alright?"

Craig was quiet for a moment, head down again. Then he looked back up at him and his expression was softer this time.

"Yeah, alright,"