Two weeks later…
“Hi Danielle.” Bright said joining her next to the make-shift basketball court in the back of the center.
“Hey there.” She said.
“Who’s winning?” he asked.
Danielle shrugged. “Jimmy throws the ball into the air, everyone screams and runs around for about two minutes, and then they start all over again. Unless some starts crying.”
“Umm…okay.” Bright replied.
“My sentiments exactly.” She said.
And as if on cue…
“DANI!!” Jimmy called out.
The little boy came running toward her holding his forehead.
“The ball hit me in the head and…” he said between tears.
“Come here.” She said holding his hand. “We’ll get some ice. Bright can you watch them?”
“No problem.” He said.
When Danielle arrived back a few minutes later the kids were playing an organized game of horse.
She let out a low whistle. “I’m impressed.”
And she was. If two weeks ago someone had told Danielle that she’d witness Bright Abbott interacting with little kids at the Everwood Community Center and having fun while doing it she would have told them they had lost it.
But here it was…happening right before her eyes.
“I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeves.” He said.
“I see.” She said with a smile.
***
“Be careful with those scissors Jason.” Danielle said.
“Dani!! I need you.” Beccy whined.
Danielle sighed and went over to the other side of the table. For some reason all the kids seemed to have extra energy today. She was running around like a mad woman.
“What do you need Beccy?” Danielle asked.
“Every time I try to cut the heart out it looks funny.” She said.
Danielle took the scissors from Beccy’s hand and grabbed a piece of construction paper.
“Okay, let’s try this again.” Danielle told her as she began cutting the paper.
“Dani!” Jason called.
She turned her head to see what was going on and sliced her finger with the scissors.
“Damn.” She cried out.
“Ohhh…you swore.” Beccy said.
“Sorry.” Danielle mumbled as she headed toward the back room.
“What’s up…ouch. What happened there?” Bright asked as Danielle ran her finger under the sink.
“I got distracted. Ow.” Danielle said.
“Here…I’ll help you out.” He said.
Bright got the first aid kit out of the cabinet.
“Okay, this is going to sting.” He said pouring a drop of alcohol onto her finger.
“No kidding.” She said through clenched teeth.
Bright shook his head and blew on her finger. “Better?”
“Yeah, it’s no longer a searing pain.” She replied.
“There you go.” He said putting a band-aid on her finger.
“Thanks.” Danielle said.
“Wait…you’ve got a couple of tears there.” He said wiping off her cheek with his thumb.
“Jeehz…you must think I’m really weak.” She said with a laugh.
“Nah. If I was going to describe you weak would not be the word.” He told her seriously.
Danielle was taken aback by change of tone in his voice. “What would you say?”
“I’d say you were strong, smart, funny, and…pretty.” He said with a blush.
She looked down at the floor, not sure what to say.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” He said quickly.
“No, that was sweet.” She said looking up.
Before Bright could reply…
“DANI!!!” Beccy called.
“I’d better get back out there.” She said.
“Yeah.” He replied.
***
“Hey dad.” Bright said. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
Dr. Abbott looked up from his newspaper. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”
“It’s about a girl.” He said.
“Always is.” Dr. Abbott replied.
“Well, there’s this girl I volunteer with and at first I couldn’t stand her.”
“And now…”
“And now I think I kind of like her.”
“Kind of?”
“Okay, I do like her… a lot.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“She’s not exactly in my social circle.”
Dr. Abbott sighed. “I wouldn’t call that a problem. If you like her and she likes you it shouldn’t matter. And besides do you think any of your friends would care as long as you were happy?”
Bright thought for a minute. Colin had always like Danielle, he just didn’t say anything because of Amy, but Bright knew the two had gotten along when they had worked together on some project. He couldn’t really think of anyone who would mind if he started dating her…besides Amy of course.
“It’s not them I’m worried about.” Bright stated. “I’m afraid she may not wanted have anything to do with my friends…some of them haven’t exactly been nice to her.”
“She’s not dating your friends Bright. I think you should stop making excuses and just ask her out.” Dr. Abbott said bluntly.
Bright was taken aback by this father’s remark…but he knew he was right.