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I climbed out of my truck “Hey, Dad Already at it, I see?” I called out, unbuckling Katie frorandfather, she started flapping her arms in excitement

“Pa!” Her squeal of delight was infectious, and my dad immediately abandoned the hose and ca her a loud, messy kiss on the cheek

“How’s h My dad was a gruff, hardworking e stature—both in size and in personality He was a guy who had spent his whole life working with his hands as a contractor, and it was only a back injury ten years ago that ended his days ofaround in the garden and otherwise driving my mother up the wall Dad wasn’t the kind of man who took to retirement well, particularly when it wasn’t his choice

He wasn’t the kind of guy to tell you he loved you or dish out hugs I got , cuddle you when you were sick, randdaughter Katie turned hiiant pile of mush, as happy to let her dress him up in a sparkly tiara and would sit with her for hours playing tea party The first tiling fro a stroke

“What? I think they look nice on me,” Dad had replied seriously while Katie clapped her hands in pure child-like joy

I was lucky that my parents doted on my child the way they did It helped to fill the void in her life left by her absent mother

I grabbed the diaper bag and followed Dad into the house “No her, holding the door open forIt was every goodscent

“Nommy!” Katie called out My rin reserved for irl

“There’s irl in the whole orld,”Katie fro me on the cheek “And there’s ently

“Nohed

“Well co to the kitchen “I just put on a fresh pot of coffee Do you have time to have some before work?” she asked me