It wasn’t a far drive to one of the nearby lakes, and when they pulled up, the scenery was breathtaking. Kinda reminded him of home, he decided, with the mountains and trees and the wildflowers blooming amid the grasses. The lake wasn’t very big, a small, weathered dock on the far side that made Hank’s parental instincts flare in alarm. They’d be standing on the shore to fish, he decided, and while he readied the poles, Becca laid out the blanket and Libby chased the puppy. Then the fishing rods were ready, and Libby put a worm on her own hook, much to Becca’s surprise. Hank was proud, though. His little girl was capable and smart, and not easily grossed out. She was a wilderness kid and she knew how to handle herself.

She was also a noisy kid, keeping up a constant stream of conversation as she watched her bobber in the water. She told Becca all about hunting for worms the night before, and how she’d helped Hank pick out Alaska, and which puppy was her favorite and why. She talked about other times they’d gone fishing and she asked again and again about the sleepover. All the talking was probably scaring away the fish, but Hank couldn’t find it in him to mind. Libby was having a great time, and Becca was, too. She curled up on her side on the blanket, watching them both and petting the sleeping puppy curled up against her. There was a look of such contentment on her face that it filled his heart with longing.

This was how it should be, he realized. His woman at his side. His daughter, too. Everyone happy and enjoying the day in the great outdoors. This was his family.

This was everything he’d ever wanted . . . and he couldn’t picture anyone else he’d rather share it with.

“Daddy!” Libby shrieked, shaking him out of his reverie. “I have a bite!”

Sure enough, the bobber went under and jerked again, nearly hauling his little girl into the water. He reached over and put his hand on the rod and helped her steady it, ensuring that it wouldn’t pull her in. “Remember what I showed you on how to bring it in?”

He was the proudest papa alive when minutes later, she brought in a fish the size of his hand, and Libby danced with joy. Becca took pictures with her cell phone and then Libby showed the fish to the puppy before she decided the fish needed to go back into the water. He had a daddy fish, she decided, like in Finding Nemo, and his family would be looking for him.

“Something tells me dinner isn’t going to be fish,” Becca murmured as Libby sent the fish back into the lake and waved goodbye to it.