When Jonathan arrives at his daughter's school, he pulls up, noticing the other parents walking towards the soccer field where practice was concluding.

Craning his neck, he tried to spot his daughter on the field, but he didn't see her. The students were scattered and most of them were talking or walking back to the school gymnasium

The sun was now a bit lower in the sky and he had arrived at the practice later than he intended.

He gave polite nods and smiles at the other parents and found a place to stand.

He noticed Clara sitting with a friend of hers, talking as they removed their soccer cleats.

Putting his hands in his pockets, he drew in a breath, thinking about the way his day had gone and about Jennifer.

He was enchanted by the fiery red head, so enchanted he didn't realize Clara had walked up to him.

"Earth to dad." Clara waves her hand in front of his face, trying to get his attention.

"Sorry darling, it's been a long day. How was practice? I told you I'd make it." Jonathan asks, flashing his daughter a sheepish grin, hoping she'd forgive him.

Rolling her eyes and staring back at him with those same blue eyes he had, Clara shook her head and smiled softly.

"Yeah, you made it for the last five minutes, dad. But if you must know, practice went well. What's got you so distracted?" She asks, brushing a hair from her face as they walk back to the car.

Something had her father distracted and she knew from experience it wasn't a business deal. She was curious as to what it could be. She knew it wasn't her grades, and it couldn't be anything related to her most recent incident at the school where she had been slightly late to class trying to wager a quiet bet on the baseball team's away game that weekend.

It was something else and she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Work." Jonathan replies a little too quickly, silently cursing himself, knowing his 13-year-old daughter was far too observant for her own good.

"Work? Really dad. I haven't seen you this distracted since you saw Hannha's mom, you know, the really pretty blonde that was Miss California?" Clara teases as she tosses her bag in the car.

They got into the car and drove away from the school. As they got further down the road, Jonathan finally spoke up.

"You're just like your mother, you know. Always questioning everything. She knew me better than I knew myself." Jonathan says softly, turning briefly to look at Clara as she gazed out at the passing view as they headed to their home.

Clara finally turns towards him and meets his gaze, a small smile curling at the ends of her mouth. "Of course I'm like mom. As she always said, "I got the best of both of you" and Max, even if it does get me in trouble from time to time."

"Max left his mark on you, kiddo." Jonathan says with a chuckle.

"So dad, when are you going to quit avoiding my question? I know you have something on your mind and it's not another merger." Clara asks with her brow raised ever so slightly.

Jonathan studied his daughter for a moment, shaking his head.

"Dad, I'm serious. What is it?" Clara asks again, her brow raised.

"Well, do you remember that woman the other day from the office- Jennifer? With the red hair?" he asks, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

Clara eyes her father, squinting a moment to recall, then her eyes grew big. "Oh no- is that the one I tripped with my soccer ball?"

"Yes," Jonathan chuckles, nodding his head. "That's the one."

"I remember her. Did you apologize to her?" Clara asks, crossing her arms over her chest as she studies her father.

"Yes, well- not exactly. I mean, I did apologize, but…how would you feel if I went to an event with her. It's not a date- I'm not trying to replace your mother." Jonathan stammers as he tries to explain to his daughter, he wasn't going on a date, but he was.

Clara giggles as she sees the redness creeping in on her father's cheeks, her eyes sparkling with that familiar cheeky glint.

"Dad, did you ask her out on a date? Why didn't you just say so?" Clara asks.

Jonathan looked up at his daughter, a sense of relief. "So, you aren't angry or upset about this?"

"No. As long as you don't act like a dork." Clara says as she looks at her dad with a raised brow.

"Me?" He questions with a smile tugging on the corner of his lips. " A dork?"

"Yes, dad. You know, telling those corny jokes. And don't wear a bowtie either. You need to wear a tie. The dark blue one that mom got you. You call it your good luck charm." Clara says, her voice trailing off.

"Yeah," he replies after a moment, "my good luck charm."

Clara looks over at him, seeing the slight set of his jaw as if he's trying to be strong and keep it together.

"I'm not six anymore, dad. I'm a teenager. It's okay. I get sad about mom sometimes, but you deserve to be happy." Clara says softly, looking down at her hands before looking up at her father who kept his gaze steady on the road.

She could see his hands clenching the wheel ever so slightly.

"Besides, who's going to take my place and pester you when I go off to college? You need hobbies, dad, not just work all the time and no, watching the birds from your office window doesn't count." Clara spoke up before her dad could.

Jonathan sucked in a breath before he let out a laugh. "You're growing up fast, kid."

"I know dad. I know." Clara nods.

Jonathan finally looks at her as a smile forms on his lips. "I'll go. But I can't promise I won't be my usual, charming, but dorky self."

A smile spreads upon Clara's face, and she giggles.

"We shall see about that." She replies.

TBC….