Che's playing with a friend in the front yard, Sarah's seeing clients before picking up Cassidy from somewhere and I'm holding onto the sofa for support, watching the kids and listening to "Blue Lights" on Spotify.
The days have been difficult lately so it's nice to see Che being "normal."
Suddenly Che shouts something to her friend and storms inside.
"Da," she says breathing heavily, "Red Juice?"
I retrieve it from the fridge and the sweaty mess of all girl jumps on the sofa, pulls me down and lays her head against my belly.
I smile, soaking up everything about the moment.
Abruptly tossing her cup aside, she crawls in my lap, looks me straight in the eyes and asks, ""Do we die when we get old?"
Stunned, I turn the music off and stare into the largest deep blue moon eyes before holding her to me and chocking back tears.
"Honey, everybody dies," I say as fatherly as I know how while not having to look at her.
"But are you old Daddy?" she asks sitting up again in my lap.
"Well, why are you asking Clare-Bear?"
The deep blue moons draw me in again as I see her tiny fingers grab my hair and twirls the long grey strings.
"Your hair," she says softly.
"WHAT?" I mock laugh. "I have great hair young lady!"
She continues staring at my long strings of hair twirling on her finger.
"It's grey," she says as soft as a Christmas night whisper.
Unexpectedly she drives her head into my chest, her arms around my stomach, Che hugs me tightly and quietly sobs.
"Mom will protect us from dying," she confidently says, snapping up to reveal the conviction of her beliefs.
"It's just part of life Che-Bay," I say as a matter of fact, "everybody dies."
"Well," Che sighs drawing the matter to a close, "I'm not for it."
Cuddling on the sofa, we surf YouTube.
"What time's Mom gonna be home?" she asks laying her head in my lap.
"Late," I answer.
"Awe," she sighs before noisily slurping the Red Juice.
"Can I have Mac-n-cheese Da?"
"You can have any damn thing you want Che," I grin, getting up and stumbling into the kitchen.
