"Pops." A small brunette ran in and hugged Bill's legs.
"Why if it isn't my little angel Louise." He picked her up.
"I love ya Pops." She kissed his cheek.
"I love you too angel." Bill hugged. "Hey Louise do you remember who that is?" Bill asked pointing in Nick's direction.
"Unca Nicky." Louise broke into an even bigger smile.
"Hey angel. You've grown right up since I last saw you. How old are you now?" She held up four fingers. "Four. You're practically a lady."
Louise giggled into her grandfather's shoulder.
"Who's that?" She asked when she noticed Sara.
"That's my friend Sara." Nick told her. "Sara, I'd like you to meet my niece Louise Bridges."
"It's nice to meet you Louise." Sara smiled.
"She's a little shy." A female voice said from the doorway.
"Emily." Nick quickly walked over and gave her a hug.
"It's been a while little brother. You look like you need to eat more."
"I eat plenty." Nick stated.
"I can attest to that." Sara said.
"But you look great." Nick told her. "Where are Jack and Luke?"
"Mom has Luke and Jack is bringing the bags in."
"Emily this is Sara. Sara, Emily."
"It's nice to finally meet you, he's told me a lot about you in his e-mails." Emily told her.
"Nick's mentioned everybody, so I'm still trying to match names, to faces to stories."
"You'll get there real quick." Emily said. "Hey Daddy."
"Emily." Bill smiled. "Good trip?"
"Traffic wasn't bad. She probably needs a nap as well as being shy. She's been up since five excited about coming to visit."
"Em." A tall, dark haired man appeared in the doorway.
"Jack, come and meet Sara."
"Jack Bridges nice to meet you." He held out his hand.
"Sara Sidle. Nice to meet you too." She shook it. "You'd be the vegetarian NASA engineer."
"Nice to see Nick is pointing out my good qualities." Jack grinned. "Good to see you again Nick, you too Bill."
Both men acknowledged him.
"Nick was just trying to explain why I wouldn't get eaten alive for being a vegetarian in Texas."
"Being a vegetarian is fine, as long as someone remembers to tell your future in-laws first before they offer you their best prime rib." Jack stated.
"It was a small over sight." Emily bit her lip.
"So what made you become a vegetarian Sara?" Jack inquired ignoring his wife. "Or is it a family thing?"
"Let's just say a pig in a blanket and not the kind you eat."
"Right." Jack said.
"Our boss, the entomologist, was trying to figure out the decomposition rate for a case." Nick explained.
"I think my explanation was less graphic." Sara said.
"Sara a doctor?" Louise asked.
"No." Sara replied. "But I am a scientist. I try to figure out how bad things happened by looking at what people leave behind like your uncle Nick."
Nick was impressed with her child friendly explanation of their job.
"Okay." Louise said.
"Hey Lou." Emily said. "Why don't we go and say hello to Grandma and then it's time to take a little nap?"
"But Momma…"
"Angel, if you take a nap then you'll be more awake so we can watch your movie." Bill reminded.
"Nemo?" Louise's face lit up.
"Nemo." Bill agreed.
"Okay. Down Pops."
"Down." Bill set her on her feet.
"Thanks Dad." Emily said. "Come on Lou."
"At least her favourite movie changes every time we come to visit." Jack offered a consolation to Bill. "And it's not a sing-a-long one this time."
"I know. I'm grateful for small mercies."
TBC
