I reached across the table.
“Antonio, I didn’t know what I was doing with Ashley, either.”
He looked up.
“I was terrified every morning. Half the time, I thought I was getting everything wrong.”
I reached across the table.
“How did you manage?”
“I kept showing up.”
Antonio wiped his eyes.
“I don’t want Hayden to lose another person.”
I looked at Ashley’s tie.
“Then she won’t.”
He stared at me.
“You’re serious?”
“How did you manage?”
“You’re family, Antonio. Both of you.”
His face crumpled.
“Maybe it’s time I met my granddaughter.”
I met Hayden the following Saturday.
When I arrived, she was sitting on the living room rug with crayons.
“You’re family.”
Antonio knelt beside her.
“Hayden, this is Frank, Ashley’s dad.”
She studied me.
“You’re the paper-tie man?”
I laughed.
“I guess I am.”
“Where’s your tie?”
