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“I can ca

ll and ask her if she wants to tag along.”

“Do it!” she yelled. “I wanna see my Anna!”

I loved her use of the word “my” when she was referring to Anna.

“Let’s go get ready,” I said and followed her into her room. I helped her pick out a pair of black leggings and a short sleeve pink shirt with a black cat that said “I’m purr-fect” on the front.

“Daddy, what’s this shirt say, again?” she asked, pointing at the words.

“It says ‘I’m purr-fect.’”

“I am!” she said and did a quick spin.

“Yes, you are.” I hoped on everything that she would never lose that confidence in herself. I wanted her to grow up with a strong sense of identity, and I knew she would need a woman to help her with that. I hoped Anna would be that woman.

After she got dressed, I grabbed her bag and told her to put some toys in it that she would want to play with while we were there. I then went into my room and put on the clothes I normally wore to train and work out at the gym.

We got into the car, and Margie asked, “Did you call Anna yet?”

“Not yet,” I said and pulled out my phone and dialed Anna’s number. She answered on the first ring.

“Hey, you. What are you doing?”

“Margie and I are driving to the gym. Would you like to come with us?” I asked

“Hmm,” she said. “I don’t have any clients today, and that sounds like fun.”

“Great. Margie’s going to be so excited,” I said.

“I can’t wait to see you both,” she said.

I smiled at the phone. I wasn’t too sure what her feelings were for me, but I hoped that maybe they were becoming something real. She was so beautiful, so perfect, and I was sure my daughter loved her more than I did, which just made things so much better.

“We can’t wait to see you either,” I said.

“I’ll see you in about ten or fifteen minutes?”

“Yeah, that’ll work,” I said.

We both said goodbye, and I hung up the phone, tossing it into the cup holder.

“Is she coming?” Margie asked.

“Yes, she is going to meet us there,” I said.

Margie squealed. “Yes! I’m so excited.”

I pulled up to the gym and helped Margie get out. We walked in, and Artie greeted both of us.

“Margie is here to cheer me on today,” I said.

“I’m glad to see you here on a day you don’t normally come in. It shows me you’re committed,” Artie said.

“I am very committed. I know I need to train harder,” I said.

I started doing some warm-ups, jumping jacks, and push-ups while Margie played with her doll and occasionally yelled, “Go, Daddy, go!”