Karen and Will had spent the next few hours explaining everything to Cailyn. It took her some time, but finally understood. Karen and Will didn't tell her that Stan never knew she existed, only that he had been away for a long time and Will had been there since she was born. By the time they had finished explaining everything to her, it was so late that Will ended up falling asleep on the living room couch.
Karen and Cailyn were on their way out for breakfast when Karen saw Will asleep on the couch.
"Look at Daddy." she said as she picked up Cailyn and pointed at Will.
Cailyn giggled and put her finger to her lips as she wriggled out of Karen's arms. She quietly tiptoed to the couch and jumped onto Will.
"Wake up, Daddy!"
Will's eyes widened as Cailyn climbed off his lap.
"Morning sweetheart."
"You look funny sleeping on the couch."
Karen laughed at her daughter's observation. Will sat up, looking at Cailyn through half-closed eyes. "What are you doing up so early?"
"Mommy and I are going out for breakfast!" Cailyn explained. "Mommy, can Daddy come with us?" she asked Karen as she climbed onto the couch next to Will.
"Don't ask me, ask him." Karen said, nodding towards Will.
"Daddy, can you come to breakfast with us?" Cailyn asked, making one of Karen's signature pouty faces.
Will looked at Karen, raising his eyebrows. "You taught her how to make your 'pouty face'.?"
Karen shrugged. "She's gotta learn it sometime, honey. She is a Walker." She grinned at Will as Cailyn continued to pout at him.
Will sighed as he looked at Cailyn. "Alright, alright. C'mon." He said as he stood up and held Cailyn's hand.
Cailyn sat in her room playing with one of her birthday gifts. Karen was sitting in the armchair next to her reading, when her cell phone rang.
"Karen Walker?"
"Karen, it's me. I was wondering if I could see Cailyn on Thursday." Stan asked.
Karen stood up from her chair, walking into the hallway. "Honey, I'll be right back, okay?" She walked into the hallway, making sure she could still see Cailyn.
"Thursday should be fine. Um, Stan, listen. Last night, Cailyn was asking questions. She knows you're her father, and that we were married. I just wanted to give you a heads-up."
Stan was silent on the other end. "She knows?"
"Yea, Stan. She knows. And she's fine. She asked me this morning when she could see you again."
"Well that's a relief! So, uh, Thursday. How about a movie?"
"Hang on, Stan." Karen said into the phone, turning to Cailyn. "Cailyn, your father wants to talk to you."
Cailyn stood up and walked to Karen, whispering in her ear as she handed her the phone. "What should I call him?"
"You can call him Dad. Or Stan. Whatever you want." Karen whispered back.
Cailyn put the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Hi Cailyn. How are you?"
"I'm okay. Mommy and I were just playing in my room."
"Okay, well I was wondering if you wanted to go to see a movie with me on Thursday?"
"Okay"
"Good. Well then I'll see you on Thursday, okay?"
"Okay. Bye….Dad."
Stan's heart leapt into his throat. "Bye, Cailyn."
