The kids' day festivities at the park really did have something for everyone as long as you were under the age of sixteen. Mary found baby productive play right away. Arianna and Steve tried their hardest to stay interested in watching the mother and daughter go through a series of exercises but Mary soon cut them loose with the promise to meet up at the food court row in two hours.
The duo wandered from booth to booth, stopping occasionally to watch at the more interesting ones, the archery, the pot throwing, the astronomy display and of course the BB gun shoot. Steve recognized the booth attendant as a sharp shooter from HPD. He stopped to chat with the man for a minute, but when he looked up to introduce Arianna, the girl wasn't anywhere in sight.
"Hey, calm down, brah. She's standing on the other side of that tent talking to a lady with kids," the officer said pointing down the row.
"Was it that obvious?" Steve asked.
"Anyone who's a parent gets that look. Hey, she's trying to get your attention."
Steve turned to find Arianna signing, "Come officially meet my friends, please."
Steve made his way over to the group, dodging gawking adolescents and pushy strollers. He'd met the adults before, but Arianna reintroduced him as her dad then went through the kids' names. The ten minutes they spent chatting gave Steve insight into Arianna's long ago comment about hooligans. He prayed Joan turned out better. He was also extremely grateful when Arianna declined the invite to join Ellie and her brood for lunch.
They continued to wander around until it was time to meet up with Mary and Joan. The baby was sound asleep when they got together. Steve managed to find them a spot in the shade and then bravely offered to make this way through the people to grab food.
"You having a good time?" Mary asked.
"Yeah. Not quite what I expected but it's all right," Arianna answered.
"Good. Hey, will you teach me some basic signs?"
"Sure. I'd love to. How long do you get to stay?" Arianna asked.
"We have to fly out Tuesday morning."
"That's too bad. Steve likes having you around and I'd like to get to know you better."
Mary blushed. "Id' like that too. Maybe we can Skype or something. Oh, don't look now, but those guys over there are trying to get your attention," Mary observed.
"Yeah, I've found that trying to talk to guys with Dad around isn't such a good idea," Arianna confessed.
Mary laughed. "I can only imagine. It's nice to see his laser focus on someone else."
"Thanks, I think," Arianna squeaked.
"What's so funny?" Steve inquired, joining the woman.
"Arianna was telling me how she is going to be forced to remain single forever seeing how you've already started scaring off potential suitors," Mary replied.
"At least until she's thirty if I have my way," Steve declared sending both woman into gales of laughter.
"Why does that feel like that's at my expense?" Steve said. They laughed even harder. So much so, they woke Joan.
Surprising everyone, Arianna offered to take care of Joan so Mary could eat. Steve watched as she expertly changed the baby while Joan was still in the stroller before pulling the baby out and settling her on her lap and feeding her.
"Is there something you'd like to share with the class? You certainly weren't all that eager to change her back at the mall," he asked.
Showing her confusion, she said, "Huh?"
"You're pretty good with the baby," he pointed out.
"Oh," she replied comprehension setting in. "I babysat a couple of summers for some friends."
"How many kids?" Mary asked, wondering how anyone could manage more than one at a time.
"Three. The first summer they were seven, four and six months. Good kids."
"Why do I feel like there's more to this story," Steve said.
"Not really. Mom set it up. The lady was a friend of hers. I watched them while she worked first shift," she said.
"First shift? That's like four to noon. How old were you?" Steve asked hoping he didn't look as concerned as he felt.
"It was after the move to the mainland, so fifteen I guess."
"So you were alone with these little kids for eight hours?"
Arianna shrugged, "More like eleven or twelve. She had a good commute and she didn't always come straight home."
"Man, I bet you made some good money," Mary said in an attempt to defuse the grenade masquerading as her brother.
"That first summer I made $75," Arianna said.
Steve knew there was no point in getting upset about the past. He couldn't change it but he couldn't help but regret not being there for it. He visibly swallowed a said, "I don't know about you tow, but I'm ready to go," effectively changing the topic.
They agreed. Quickly finishing their lunch, they were soon making their way back to the pickup. Halfway there a shrieked, "Uncle Steve!" pierced the air.
Grace came running towards them with a craft laden Danny trailing behind. Arianna, not having heard the call started to ask why they'd stopped when she spotted the reason. She smiled as Grace wrapped Steve in a tight hug.
"Hey, guys!" Steve greeted.
"Hey yourself. Aren't you a tad old to be at kids' event?" Danny teased.
"Dad can participate in the eleven to sixteen games," Arianna piped in.
"What is it with you two? Every time, it's gang up on Steve time," Steve protested.
"You make it easy, babe," Danny quipped.
"Uncle Steve, you need to see the bowl I made. I put handles on it," Grace said, coming to the poor man's rescue while tugging on Danny's arm to get him to produce said item.
Everyone ooo'd and ahh'd over the slightly misshapen bowl-like object, making the little girl exceedingly happy. Grace managed to convince the adults that shaved ice was required before they parted ways.
As the gang enjoyed their variety of flavors and Steve snuck bites to Joan, Grace regaled them with tales of school and cheerleading.
"Missy's older sister practices with her and she's getting really good. She's most likely going to be captain," Grace informed them.
"What are you talking about, Monkey? You've been working hard too," Danny said.
"Yeah, but I can't work on the technical without a spotter and no offense, Danno, you don't even know how to do a cartwheel," Grace rejoined.
"What's all the other stuff I've been helping with?" Danny asked, honestly confused.
"There's three parts; leadership, routine and technical. You've been helping with the leadership and memorizing all the names of the routine steps."
"Oh, so I know what a half pike is, but I can't help you do one," Danny joked.
"Danno, that's skiing," Grace moaned.
"I'll help you out, Grace," Arianna offered.
"Really?" Grace eyed her skeptically.
"Sure, why not," Arianna replied.
"Can you do a back handspring?" Grace questioned, still not believing.
"I'm a little rusty. Want a demo?" Grace nodded enthusiastically.
Arianna stood up, shove her ice at Danny, wiped her palms on her shorts, pulled Steve to his feet and motioned for Grace to follow. She walked over to an open spot not too far away. She positioned Grace on one side and Steve on the other of a small path.
"What am I supposed to do," Steve called out.
"You need to keep people from getting in her way, Uncle Steve," Grace answered.
"Okay. I can do that," Steve assured as he watched his daughter ready herself a few yards away.
Mary, Joan and Danny moved so they could watch the action from the end opposite Arianna, effectively finishing off a rectangular performance area. They watched in awe as Arianna started with a run round off, then straight into two back handsprings, a back somersault straight, another handspring and a whip back. There was a smattering of applause when she finished. She ducked her head in embarrassment.
Grace ran to her, jumping with excitement. "What level are you?" she squealed.
"Level eight when I stopped," Arianna admitted reluctantly.
"Why'd you stop? You're good," Grace gushed.
"Things happened," Arianna replied.
Sensing the girl's unease at talking about the past, Danny stepped in, "Well if that's technical, I most definitely can't do that! Grace how about you set the times to get together with Arianna while we work our way to the cars."
At the parking lot, they split up to head to their respective homes. Steve was determined to find out why Arianna had quit a sport she was so good at. Arianna derailed him. "Grandparents till we moved then car insurance was forsaken until I figured it out," was all she said.
Mary, perplexed, started to say something only to have Steve cut her off with shake of his head. Now was not the time to explain to his sister what Arianna's childhood was like. "When are you meeting with Grace?"
"Her cheer off is next Saturday, so we are going to meet for a couple of hours tomorrow then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after school," Arianna told him.
"That's a lot. You really have time for that?" Mary asked.
Arianna shrugged. "It's not like I have much of a social life and I really like Grace."
"Can I come and watch?" Steve asked with boyish enthusiasm.
"Don't you have a little thing called work?"
"Depends on case load. I'm sure I can take a really late lunch," Steve reasoned.
"We'll see," she said, patting his shoulder.
They piled into the truck and went back to Steve's. It was decided they'd grill for dinner for a light meal. Somehow, mysteriously, Steve just happened to have the ingredients for the dessert Arianna first made him. Using a combination of puppy eyes and begging, he managed to convince her to bake the gooey goodness.
The three adults passed the evening on the lanai, talking. Steve and Mary told Arianna about their childhood and what they could of their adulthood. Arianna reciprocated but she managed to stick to the good memories. Steve wasn't sure whose benefit she did it for. He wanted to hold her hug the bad away but he was certain it wouldn't go over too well right then. Mary watched the two in awe because she'd never seen two people more alike than this father and daughter.
To Steve's consternation, they laid out their Sunday plans. He didn't want Arianna to go home yet but she was insistent even after he used Mary and Joan as lures. He grudgingly gave in when she promised to come over for dinner Monday night. Arianna and Mary made plans for lunch and she'd head home after since Grace was coming over at two. Steve made no plans as he didn't know how his meeting with Catherine would go.
Arianna woke in a cold sweat, the nightmare fresh in her mind. Knowing she wasn't going to get back to sleep anytime soon, she decided to grab an ice tea and watch a little TV. Steve had updated his package to include close captioning so she wouldn't disturb anyone. Pulling her dad's tee over her halter top, she slipped from the bedroom to the living room. She was surprised to find Steve tossing and squirming in his recliner, in the midst of his own bad dream. Acting on instinct, she kicked the side of his chair.
Steve watched Freddie take another bullet through the side mirror. He knew what he needed to do but the truck jerked sideways. Wait! That didn't happen before! He woke with a start. It took him a moment to remember where he was. Catching movement by the corner of his eye, he jerked his head to find Arianna watching him with concern.
Forgetting to sing, he muttered, "What are you doing up?"
Not being able to see his lips, she said, "Are you okay?"
It took Steve a few more seconds to understand the situation and get up to turn on a side lamp. Signing this time, he repeated, "Why are you up?"
"I had a nightmare. What about you?" Arianna replied.
"The same."
"I'll share mine if you share yours," she said softly. "There's a glass of ice tea and a chair on the lanai calling our names."
Not really sure why, Steve followed her outside to sit in a chair so they were facing each other. Neither of them spoke for a while, sipping their drinks and gazing out at the ocean.
Arianna was the first to break the silence. "It started out with me in the morgue, identifying Mom's body. She sits up on the table, looks me in the eye and says, 'You ruined my life.' Then I'm standing in your office and everyone is moving around but they don't see me. At some point, Catherine walks right through me. Suddenly, I'm in the library and you and Uncle Danny are storming the door. The gunmen open fire on you. That's when I wake up. Now it's your turn."
Steve takes a large gulp of tea before he speaks. "Most of them are about missions I can't talk about."
"Can't or won't?" she calls him out.
"They're classified."
"That's just an excuse," Arianna retorts.
"What do you know about it?" Steve snaps.
"You may not be able to talk about the specifics, you can talk about your feelings," Arianna replied not reacting to his anger.
"My feelings? Really?"
"Yes, really. That's what triggers all our dreams, good or bad."
Steve doesn't respond. He turns his gaze back out to the ocean. Arianna lets him stew for a little while before she asks, "Are you suffering from PTSD?"
"I don't know," he answers honestly.
"You made sure I'm going to get help. Maybe you should take your own advice," she suggested.
Steve stared at her with a contemplative look. "Yeah, maybe I should, but there's nothing I can do about it at two a.m. How about I tuck you in and we both try to get some more shut eye?" He rose to take her hand and pull her to her feet.
Arianna allowed him to guide her back to her room and pull the sheet up. "You know, this is the first time anyone has ever done this for me. Don't think it's going to happen again though, I'm too old to be tucked in by my daddy."
Steve smiled. "Glad to know I get a first with you and I'll cherish this singular moment forever." He bent down to kiss her forehead then pulled back. "I was dreaming about the death of a friend and the death of my dad. They happened the same week. Fall out from the same mission. All I could do was watch or listen."
"Oh, Dad. I'm so sorry," she said, surging up to pull him into a hug.
Steve allowed himself to take comfort from her embrace. Neither knew how long they stayed that way. Eventually, mutual yawns brought them back. With unshed tears in his eyes, Steve kissed Arianna again, tucked the sheet around her for a second time and went to his own bed. Sleeping was a long time in coming for both of them and it wasn't restful when it did come. The pair were up at the crack of dawn. Without speaking, Arianna joined Steve for his morning swim.
Mary watched through the window as the duo made their way back to the beach. She was still a bit in denial that her big brother had a kid, but she had to admit Arianna was good for him. He was more relaxed and open. She hasn't seen him like this since their mother's faked death. She smiled at them as they came in. "Water good this morning?"
"Not too bad, a little choppy," Steve answered.
"Go take your showers and I'll fix us some breakfast," Mary ordered. At the twin looks of disbelief she continued, "Even I can't screw up cold cereal and fruit."