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Daniel was hiding in the woods.
The trees were all green now, and the birds and bugs chirped something fierce overhead. Squirrels hopped from branch to branch, shaking the leaves above him.
The dog bolted from the yard and barked at the squirrels.
"Shh," Daniel whispered. Dumb thing was gonna give him away.
He still couldn't believe things had turned out like they had. One morning, he'd been scared he'd never see his mama again. The next morning, Mr. Nate and Miss Marisa had delivered him to her—at Mr. Eric's house.
And then, it got really good.
"Gotcha!"
Before Daniel could run, Daddy swooped him out of his hiding place.
"Man, you always find me!" Daniel said.
Daddy set him down on the dirt. "You complaining, little man?" Daddy's eyebrows rose, and Daniel laughed.
"You found me, but you can't catch me!" He bolted toward the yard, Magic on his heels. Daddy was right behind, laughing too hard to catch up.
"You two better quit," Mama called. "Company'll be here in a minute."
Daniel made it to the yard about a half a second before his daddy did.
"Hand me the platter." Daddy went right to the back steps and kissed Mama, who was standing in the doorway. "I'll start grilling before the guys get here and tell me I'm doing it wrong."
"I guarantee you're doing it wrong."
Him and Daddy turned to see Chief Brady coming around the house, his hand around Miss Rae's back. She was practically waddling now, carrying that baby in her belly. He couldn't believe anybody could get that big. And how was that baby ever gonna get out?
He'd have to ask Daddy. He'd know. Daddy knew everything.
Johnny was toddling toward the swing set and squealing. Daniel figured he'd spend half the day pushing the kid, but he didn't mind. Real men were nice to women and kids. That's what Daddy always said.
He grabbed Johnny, tickled him, and slid him in the toddler swing.
The boy squealed louder.
Daniel looked at Daddy across the lawn, and Daddy gave him a thumbs-up. He puffed with pride. He was gonna be just like his daddy someday.
Mr. Garrison and Miss Sam came around the side of the house, too. Mr. Garrison was carrying a pan, and Daniel figured he knew what it was. Miss Sam always brought caramel brownies—his favorite!
Aiden was right behind them.
"Hey, sport!" Aiden joined Daniel at the swing set. "You got sucked into Johnny-duty."
"Nah. I don't mind." Daniel liked Aiden. He didn't get to see him much, because Aiden didn't live with his father. He lived in some apartment with a bunch of others guys. Daniel'd heard Mr. Garrison call it a sober living house. No idea what that meant, but Aiden seemed happy, so he figured it must have been a cool place to live.
Miss Marisa and Ana rounded the corner, followed by Nate, who called, "Hey, Daniel."
He waved to him and Marisa while Ana ran over and climbed on the swing. "Push me, too!"
Caro followed them into the yard holding hands with her boyfriend, Finn, who was also Nate's brother. They came to the swing set and said hey, and Daniel and Aiden said hey back. Everybody started talking, but Daniel just listened, thinking.
Daniel wasn't related to any of these folks, except Mama and Daddy, of course. His friend Caleb back in Oklahoma had a big family, and Daniel had always been jealous of all those people he got to hang out with all the time. Daniel had that kind of family, too. Some lived in Georgia, and some lived in Texas. He'd gone to visit Daddy's family a few months before, met all his cousins. They were nice, but he didn't know them very well.
Caleb's cousins had all lived right there in town, and some of them were jerks, and Caleb had to be nice to them anyway, 'cause they were blood.
But these kids here at Daniels house, they were like cousins, and the grown-ups were like aunts and uncles. This was even better, because he and his folks got to choose these people. They went to church together, they had cookouts on holidays together, they celebrated birthdays together. And sometimes, they just got together for the fun of it, like today. Just because they were friends.
Aiden pushed Ana, and Daniel pushed Johnny. They shared a look—two guys taking care of little kids. The teenagers talked, and they were always nice to include Daniel and Ana.
Across the yard, the women all squealed and looked at Miss Sam's hand.
Maybe she'd found a cool bug or something.
Daddy shook Mr. Garrison's hand. "Better hurry before she changes her mind."
Mr. Nate slapped his back, and Brady shook Mr. Garrison's hand after Daddy let it go.
"What's going on?" Daniel asked.
Aiden stared at them, shook his head. "Dad and Sam are getting married."
"Oh."
Caro said, "Hey, that's great." She looked at Aiden, eyes narrowed. "Or, is it?"
Aiden smiled. "It's great. It's awesome."
"Push me higher!" Ana screamed.
Johnny joined in. "Higher, higher!"
Daniel pushed the boy as the sound of laughter and the scent of grilling burgers filled the air.
The lady at church said something about streets of gold in heaven. He wasn't sure about that. No, Daniel figured heaven would be just like this.
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