"I'm not starting anything."
"You have that look."
"What look?"
"That annoying look you get when you think you've proved something."
Takoda giggled into her food, clearly entertained by the exchange. Kade leaned slightly toward his daughter, lowering his voice as though they were discussing something between the two of them.
"Do you know what she's talking about?"
Takoda shook her head innocently. "No."
"Traitor," Dakota muttered.
Takoda immediately burst into laughter, nearly dropping her spoon in the process. Kade reached over and steadied her bowl before it could tip over.
"Careful," he warned. "You're going to spill everything."
"I wasn't going to."
"You almost did."
"But I didn't."
"Because I caught it."
Takoda looked down at the bowl and then back at her father with a small smile. "That's why you're here dear Father."
Kade's expression softened as he reached over and wiped a tiny smear of food from the corner of her mouth.
"Apparently."
