When we got to the café, my mom gave me and Maia big bowls of ice cream. Matt joined use at this point too. It was great to be there with my daughter and my brother. It was like my world was complete and I thanked Brooke for it. I know I could have had this long ago, but it wouldn't have tasted this sweet. The only thing that was missing from the table was Brooke.

After about an hour there, I took Maia back to Haley's.

"Bye kiddo. You know I love you right?"
"Yeah dad, I love you too. Thanks for playing with me!" She threw her arms at me for a hug.
"Oh, I am going to miss you. I can't wait until I move up to Connecticut and can see you all the time."

"Me neither dad." She said as she ran inside.

"Hey, send your mom out!" I called after her.

Brooke came out about a minute later.

"You know, you can come inside, we can talk in there." She said, laughing a little.

"Okay, let's go then." We sat down in the kitchen and talked over coffee.

"You know that she is an incredible basketball player?"
"Uh yeah, I know. That has always been her greatest similarity to you, not how much you guys look alike or the fact that you guys sometimes have the same expression, it's the love of the game. She's been drawn to it since she was a baby, I swear. She used to carry around a ball when she was three and try to dribble, it was cute and sad all at once."

"No, Brooke, she is really good. She has a natural talent, the Scott genes sure came through strong in her. Who taught her to play?"

"No body. I mean, I taught her the little things that you taught me and um, she watched the NBA and WNBA."
"You tried to teach her to play?"
"Luke, she wanted to learn so badly, so I taught her what I knew. I must not have been that bad if she turned out to be this good… So anyway, you guys have a good time?"

Just then Maia entered the kitchen,

"Mom, we had the best time. Dad is awesome."
At Maia's answer a smile appeared on Brooke's face that took my breath away. Of course it was her beautiful, perfect smile, but it held this happiness, joy and pride that can't be described in words. That smile that showed how much Maia meant to her, it made my heart skip a beat and just want to pull them both into a hug and be a family.

Brooke and Maia left later that week and I made a promise that I would take Maia out on my first night in Connecticut.

Two months later I joined them in Connecticut. Just as I promised, I took Maia out to eat and then we went back to my place to start unpacking. She had already told me that she wanted a room at my house too and I agreed. My apartment was great; it had two bedrooms and two baths. Maia's room was decorated with basketball and had all the girly touch you'd expect to see. The bedding was pink, but it had a basketball in the middle. Brooke had made it for her.