Liana and Jacob at eight years old.

"Look out, we're gonna crash!" Jacob yelled, poised to leap off the couch.

"Prepare to bail!" I commanded from beside him. We jumped off the couch and fell to the floor.

"Ouch! I hurt my foot." Jacob said.

"Will you be okay Jacob?" I peered over at him.

He was silent for a moment. "Ana, I think I broke the doll from your grandma. I'm sorry."

I stared at the broken pieces. Grandma Swan had given me that doll just before she died. Tears welled up and I fought to keep them down. Jacob must feel bad enough as it is, no point in making it worse.

"It, it's okay Jacob," I sniffed. "Maybe we can glue it back together."

Dad came in and asked what happened. I told him and he said he would try to fix it.

Arms wrapped around me. "I'm sorry Liana, I didn't mean to," Jacob said.

Some tears spilled over, and he hugged me tighter.

"It's not your fault, I shouldn't have left it lying around," I cried. We collected the pieces and put them carefully in a bowl.

Jacob comforted me until it was time for him to leave.

"Goodbye Jacob," I sniffled.

"Bye Liana, I'm so sorry," he apologized again.

We waved as he left and then I went and took the broken pieces to my room.

That night I cried myself to sleep. Grandma Swan was the nicest lady I had ever met. She showed me how to make cookies and how to fold socks. When she got sick she asked if I would visit her. She gave me the doll the last time I saw her. It had been hers since she was a little girl and thought I would like it. And now I've gone and gotten it broken.

I didn't see Jacob for almost a week, and when I did he had a surprise for me.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hands," he said. I hesitantly did as he asked.

"It this a trick?" I asked suspiciously. The last time he said he had a surprise he and Embry put a frog in my hair.

"I promise it is not a trick," he placed something hard in my hands.

"Okay, open your eyes now," Jacob said.

In my hands lay a carved wooden box. I slowly opened the lid and inside lay a package wrapped in newspaper. Setting the box down, I began to unwrap the gift. Upon seeing it I started to cry.

"What's wrong? Did I do the wrong thing? I can fix it maybe," Jacob said anxiously.

"Thank you Jacob!" I through my arms around him and hugged him.

Jacob had carved a little wooden doll out of a piece of driftwood. The doll had on a small red dress that someone else must have made. I would keep the doll on my dresser and treasure it always.

When I placed the doll on my dresser I noticed something different. Grandma Swans doll had been glued! It was whole, but with a spiderweb of cracks all over. Next to it lay a note.

I know how much this doll means

to you. It will break more easily from

now on. I know you will take good care of it.

Love, Dad.

That night as I said goodnight to dad I thanked him.

"Thank you for fixing my doll daddy. I love you," I gave him a big hug.

He squeezed me back. "I love you too. It was no problem sweetie, that's what dads are for."