After school, Danny's mother picked Delilah up and took her out to lunch.

"Mamaw, I'm gonna tell my daddy that I invited my teacher to my birthday party!"

"Oh that's very nice of you, Lilah!"

"Yeah! Mamaw, she's super nice! And she's super funny, and super SUPER pretty!"

"Super!" She giggles.

"She sounds like you!"

"Yeah..
Mamaw!!  Sometimes in my room I pretend my mommy is really there, and guess what?"

"What, honey?"

"I think she's JUST like Ms. Jessie!"

"Well I knew your mommy and, I can tell you she was definitely super nice, super funny, and super SUPER pretty!"

Delilah smiles.
"Cool!
I think my mommy would like Ms. Jessica!"

"You what?  I bet you she sent Ms. Jessica to you."

"What?!  Are you serious?"

"Yep!  I bet she told Jesus that you were nervous about big girl school, and she told him to send you the most awesome teacher he knew!"

"WOOOOW!  That's AWESOME!  Thank you, mommy!" Delilah smiles up to the sky.

**

"DADDY!"

"Hey, Cupcake!"

"I missed you!"

"I missed you so much more, pretty girl!  Did you have a good day at school?"

"Yeah!  It was totally fun!"

"Totally fun?  That's Awesome!" He chuckles.

"Yes and guess what!"

"What, baby?"

"I asked Ms. Jessie to come to my party!  And tomorrow, I'm gonna take her an inbitation!"

"That's nice of you, sweet pea!"

"Yeah!"

***

The next morning.

"Miss Jessie!  I have an inbitation for you!"

"Aw!  Thank you, sweetie!  That's really nice of you to invite me to your birthday party."

"Well I like you!"

"Aw!  I like you too, honey!"

Delilah smiles then says, "Bye, daddy, I've gotta do my work!"

"Get back over here!" Danny laughs and scoops her up.

"You're not going anywhere without a kiss!"

"Ahh!  Haha!  Muah!  Bye, daddy!"

"Bye Bye, Princess."

Jessica giggles.
"She's very sweet."

"She is, Thank you!" He chuckles.

"Oh and uh.. don't feel obligated to go to the party.  I'm sure you have more important things to do.."

"Oh no, I'll be there!"

"Oh!  Okay!" He smiles.

"Unless you don't want me there."

"No, No, No!  I want you there!  I mean.. Delilah wants you there, of course!  I just didn't want you to feel like you Had to go."

"No, she's excited.." Jessica smiles at Delilah who was now talking with one of her friends.

"Of course I'll be there."

"Great!  The weather is supposed to be nice so it'll be outside, just so you know." He smiles.

"Perfect!  Thank you, Mr. Huston."

"No problem!  Goodbye, Ms. Lange."

"Bye!" Jessica smiled.

Danny walked out and Jessica returned to her work.

***

Saturday.

Danny slowly opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was his beautiful daughter.
He moved closer and kissed her forehead.

"Mmm.. daddy?" Delilah stretches out.

"Happy Birthday, my little princess!"

"Thank you, daddy!  I'm five!"

"That is so crazy!"

"I know!  Now let's get ready for my party!"

"Woah!  Slow down, little missy!  Let's just watch some cartoons in bed for a little while.
Then breakfast!"

"Oh yes!  No hard work or partying with an empty tummy!"

"Exactly!" Danny smiles and high fives her.

**

"Okay!  You have your brand new birthday outfit on!
How would you like your hair today?"

"Ummm.."

"How about down showing off those beautiful curls daddy gave you?"

"What?!  Daddy, you didn't give me my curls! I grew it myself!"

"You grew it yourself, but I am the one that gave you those curls. Hellooo! Look at my hair!"

Delilah giggles and messes with his hair.

**

An hour later.

"It's two o'clock and no ones here! Everyone hates me!"

"Little drama queen! It's literally ten seconds past two!"

"What if no one comes?!"

"Honey, most rsvp'd. Don't worry."

"What does that mean?"

"They called me and said they'll be here."

"Oh! Okay!" She smiles.

Just then the doorbell rings.

"Oh!"

"You see? Silly girl!"

Delilah giggles and walks with Danny to let her first guest in.

"Hi Delilah! Happy Birthday!" Her friend Sydney smiles.

Delilah becomes shy and holds onto her father.

"Say thank you for coming, Sydney!"

"Thanks for coming." She smiles shyly.

Danny chuckles and pats her back.

**

Soon more and more guests arrived and Delilah eventually came out of her shell.

Danny walked around and mingled with his friends and family.  Suddenly the doorbell rang, and he walked over to answer it.

"Oh!  Hello.." Danny smiles.

"Hi!" Jessica says.

...

"... Can I come in?"

"Oh I'm sorry! Yes, come in!  She's in the backyard.
I'll walk you out."

"Alright!"

Jessica follows Danny outside where there were kids in a bouncy house and some on the water slide.

"Wow!  Look at all this!  You're a cool dad!" Jessica giggles.

"Hah, Thanks!" Danny smiles.

"Didi!  Look who's here!"

"What?  AHHH!  Ms. Jessica!" Delilah runs over and hugs her.

"Oh watch it, you're gonna get her all wet, Lilah!"

Jessica laughs and hugs her tightly.
"No, it's okay, don't worry! Happy Birthday, sweetie!"

"Thank you!  You look so beautiful, Ms. Jessica!"

"Aw, thank you so much!  I think you look gorgeous!"

"Thank you!" Delilah giggles cutely.

"Heh!  Well Ms. Jessica, make yourself at home.
There's food, and drinks—"

"Daddy no!  You have to serve her like a nice man!"

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

"No, no!" Jessica laughs. "It's okay, I can manage. Thank you though!"

"Well I'll show you where we keep the food and drinks!" Delilah takes her by the hand and takes her to the food table.

"Well aren't you sweet!"

"I am! Here! There's all kinds of food here. There's drinks in there, and my daddy says these are grown up drinks in that cooler!" Delilah points.

"I don't know if your mommy will let you have one or not." She looks up to her teacher with a serious expression on her face.

Both Danny and Jessica laugh at her innocence.

"Water is fine with me! Thank you so much, sweetie!"

**

As the party went on Danny continued mingling with the guests.

"Son, who's that pretty blonde sitting over there?"

"Who? Oh dad, that's Didi's teacher."

"Oh really? Is she single?"

"Why? Are you interested?" Danny chuckles.

"I was just asking! She's sitting alone, why don't you go talk to her?"

"What do I talk about?"

"Talk about Delilah." He shrugs.

"Alright."

"Wait, Wait!"

"What?"

"Be cool!"

"Dad, what the hell?" Danny laughs.

"She's pretty! Might as well go for it!" He shrugs.

"No!"

"Why?"

"Cause it's Ms. Jessica!" Danny laughs.

**

Danny walks closer to Jessica and he sees her sitting alone under the hot sun. Her skin and hair glowing.
Her sunglasses protecting her beautiful hazel eyes.

"Hey! Mind if I sit here?" He asks.

"No, not at all!"

"Cool!
Thank you again for coming! You've made her fifth birthday." Danny chuckles.

"Aw that's so nice to hear!" Jessica smiles.

"She's a smart girl, and she's very sweet!
You've done a great job."

"Thank you. That means a lot."

"Daddy!  Daddy!" Delilah runs over.

"What, honey?"

"Can you French braid my hair?"

"Sure!  One or two?"

"Two!  Oh no, I need hair ties!"

"I've got it." Danny reaches in his pocket.

"Oh you're prepared!" Jessica laughs.

"Yep!  When you have a little girl with this much hair, you have to be prepared with extra hair ties!"

"Smart!" She chuckles.

**

"All done!" Danny kisses her cheek.

"Thank you, daddy!"

"You're welcome, princess!"

"That's so sweet!  Most dad's stink at French braids."

"It took a lot of practice!"

"Oh I'm sure!  You're a really good father.
Delilah is very lucky to have you."

"Thank you so much.
.. It's hard.. you know.. doing all of this without her mom.."

"I bet! I can't even imagine how difficult that must be."

"I never thought I'd be in this alone. Ever."

Jessica felt such a sadness when listening to Danny.

"I'm here if you ever need anything. Really."

"I appreciate that."

Jessica gives him a soft smile.

"Sorry to bring things down." He chuckles.
"I think about her a lot but.. especially on Delilah's birthday."

"I'm sure there are certain days that are more difficult than others.."

"Yeah.. our anniversary, her birthday, Valentine's Day!
.. But today.. today's the hardest."

Jessica looked at Danny as he took a deep breath in and continued.

"October 4th, five years ago.. was the most incredible day of my life.. but it was also the most horrific day of my life."

Jessica placed her hand over his and moved a little closer to him.

"I gained the most beautiful little girl in this world.. and I lost the love of my life."

"Oh gosh! I'm so sorry. I had no idea Delilah never knew her.."

"She never.. she never even got to hold her."

"Aw.."

"I'm sorry I brought this up, it just came out without warning and-"

Jessica sees the tears in his eyes and she feels his pain.

"No, don't apologize! You're hurting, and it's good to talk when you're hurting! I'm here if you ever want to talk."

"Thank you." Danny nods his head then looks down.

"Oh!" Jessica quickly moves her hand away.

"Thank you for listening Ms. Lange.."

"Of course!"

What Danny and Jessica didn't know was Delilah was watching them from afar.

Delilah smiles a big beautiful smile as she says, "Oh my gosh!  I think they love each other!"