David was silent as he put down the knife, scooped up the remaining carrot slices in his hands, and dropped them in a bowl. Katie waited patiently for him to answer. She'd learned that he sometimes took a few minutes when asked a question he really didn't know how to answer.
"Would that bother you?"
Katie smiled. That was another thing he did: ask another question. "Dad, that's not answering."
"I know, but would it?"
"No, I don't think so ... but it would be weird having a stepmother." She was quiet for a moment then a thought struck her. "Oh no! That would make Joey my uncle! Wouldn't it?"
"Yes, I suppose it would." He looked speculatively at his daughter. "What difference does that make."
"Well, he is awful cute."
"He's also quite a bit older than you, young lady." David tried to sound forbidding.
"Oh, Dad don't worry, I know he's too old for me ... now, but in a few years he won't be ... besides, he's not as much older than me as you are with Sara."
"That's entirely different."
"What's so different? And anyway, we're not talking about me, we're talking about you. Now answer my question: are you and Sara going to get married?"
"All right, all right. I just don't want you to get in trouble."
"Oh Dad, you don't have to worry about that, now stop stalling." "OK, but to tell you the truth Katie, ... Sara and I haven't really even discussed it."
"How could you not discuss it. You've been living together for over two months, haven't you?"
"Yes, but Sara had a very bad experience with her first marriage, and I think she's still a little afraid."
"Oh" said Katie thoughtfully. "What about you Dad, was your marriage to Mom a bad experience?"
"No babe, we just grew apart."
"Yeah, I know." At that, she hugged her father. "I just want you to be happy, Dad."
"I am, pumpkin, I am ... Now go clean the grill for these great burgers we've made."
"Did I hear some body say burgers?" asked Sara as she came in the screen door. " 'Cause I'm starving!"
After Katie had gone home, David found himself thinking more and more about their discussion of he and Sara getting married. The idea appealed to him, but he was leery of bringing the subject up. He was afraid she wasn't ready to commit herself to another marriage yet, and he didn't want to push. He would wait.