"Hey, Ang, come here – We got another postcard from Sam!"

Angela came trotting down the stairs and was looking over Tony's shoulder within ten seconds of his call.

"Ooh, it's a long one!" she squealed.

"I was starting to think she didn't bother to write one this week."

"Well, go on!"

Tony read it aloud.

"Dear Dad, Angela, Mona, and Jonathan,

New Mexico gets more beautiful every day. I've been spending a lot of time around the horses and learning to ride them like a pro. Who would have thought a Brooklyn girl turned Connecticut girl would wind up loving the country so much? Of course, I do miss everyone at home. I hope you'll come to visit before I have to leave. I want to show you around. Like I've said, the resort is fantastic and the people in my classes are so sweet to me. If not for school in the fall, I think I could really consider moving out here. Don't worry, Dad – it's just a daydream. You'll understand if you see it. I'm impressed you haven't followed me out here already. Thanks, Angela (and Mona) for keeping him in line. Believe it or not, I miss you, too, Jonathan. I hope you're causing some trouble in my place.

I love and miss you all,

Sam"

Taking the postcard from him, Angela said, "I'm so glad she takes the time to write. It sounds like she's having the time of her life."

"Yeah," Tony mumbled as he stepped away.

"Is everything all right?"

He waved his hand. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"I know you miss her."

"So much."

"If it helps, I think you've done a magnificent job handling it."

"Sure, I dropped ten pounds, I wake up every three hours, and I swear the other day I found a bald spot." He pointed to the back of his head.

She looked but saw nothing. "You're not going bald."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

Turning back to face her, he sighed. "I don't know, Angela. I knew this was going to be hard, but I'm really struggling here. I wish it was easier to check up on her. I'd love to go visit, and I know she says she wants us to, but what if she's just saying that for my sake? I know she wants time away. I really don't want to smother her. I just never thought the first time she was on her own it would be a couple thousand miles away."

With a sympathetic smile, she said, "Try to find peace in the fact that this is temporary."

"Sure, for now. What about after college? Or what if she decides to study abroad for a semester, or worse, a year? What if she settles down far away from me? What then? Do I leave you to follow her? Would she even want me to follow her?"

"Me?"

Realizing what he'd said, he corrected, "Ah, well, you know, you, Jonathan, Mona…"

"Ah."

Shaking his head, he let out a sigh. "It's been a rough couple of weeks. I think because this is it. Everything I just said… it's in motion. There's nothing I can do to stop it. She's an adult. I couldn't make her change her mind about the job. She is old enough to make her own choices. I just wish there was somethin' stable to hold on to, you know?"

"You know you can always come and talk to me…"

Forcing a smile, he said, "I know. Thank you."

She reciprocated, trying to quell the hurtful realization that she probably wasn't the one he considered going to for anything anymore.

Wanting to change the subject, she said, "We'll have to call her some night soon. All of us."

"That would be nice."

"We can tell her it was my idea so she doesn't think you're smothering her," she winked.

"I hope it will be one of those times where she admits she misses Daddy, but that sounds like a good backup plan if not."

Not sure of what else to say, Tony started toward the stairs while Angela paced around as she reread the postcard. He watched her for a moment, the way she peered down at Samantha's handwriting and ran her fingers over it like she used to with Jonathan's postcards from camp. His heart lurched. It was easy to say she was like a mother to Sam, but too often he neglected to see that Sam was like a daughter to her.

When she looked up, she caught him staring. Self-consciously, she held out the postcard. "I'm sorry… I'm sure you want this."

"Nah," he pushed her hand back to her. "You hold onto it."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "You miss her just as much as I do."

She bit her lip, replying softly, "I do. I can't believe how quickly she grew up."

"Sometimes I still see her as a little kid pushing ten, then she walks into the room and she's a young woman. She looks so much like Marie."

"She does – from what I can tell in pictures."

"You think that's why I have so much trouble letting her go?"

Angela shrugged. "Could be. I'm sure that's at least part of it."

"I guess it's not fair to pin that on her, huh?"

"Do you ever tell her?"

"Only on occasion. It really hits me when she gets dressed up for something or styles her hair a certain way."

"Maybe if she understood where you're coming from she wouldn't get so defensive," she said.

"I dunno. I don't want to guilt her into staying near me. It's my problem, not hers."

Angela nodded.

"I think it's just something I gotta deal with."

She reached out and gave his hand a quick squeeze. "Just know you don't have to do it alone." She had to say it, even if he had sort of dismissed her earlier offer for support.

"Thanks, Angela." He smiled. "I really do appreciate you being here… for both of us."

"Of course."

Tony went quiet again but didn't move. Just as Angela shifted her footing, he asked timidly, "… Want to call her now?"

Her eyes twinkled, a grin appearing on her lips as she pushed past him to get to the phone. "I'll dial."