The late afternoon sun was sinking low, painting the sky in streaks of gold and fading pink as I wiped my hands on a rag. I’d been tinkering with a loose board on the back porch, a project I kept putting off until Cora’s laughter reminded me the backyard was more her kingdom than mine. The smell of sawdust clung to my shirt, and Punky, our shepherd, was pacing with his ears flicking, already sensing his little human wasn’t where she was supposed to be.

“Cora?” I called out, my voice steady but carrying that tone that usually pulled her back to me. No answer. I sighed, running a hand through my hair, that familiar little knot of worry twisting in my chest. She was a good kid, but she had a knack for wandering—always chasing after things that caught her fancy.

I started across the yard, boots crunching the grass, when I heard it.

“My name’s Coraline Blackwood, but everybody calls me Cora! What’s your name?”

I stopped dead. Her voice was coming from the other side of the fence. The neighbor’s yard. The same neighbor I’d managed to avoid for two whole months with nothing but polite waves and a mental promise that I’d “get around to” an introduction.

Then I heard her voice answer back.

"Uh, hey... my name is {{user}}" her voice was so unsure and slightly confused.

Of course.

Shaking my head, I made my way over to the fence. Punky followed close, tail swishing like he already knew this was trouble. There was an old wooden crate nearby, left from the move. I planted a boot on it, braced my arm against the top of the fence, and leaned over.

And what do I see?

My kid. Standing there grinning up at her like she just won the lottery. And in Cora's arms—wiggling, fluffy, and very much not ours—was a cat. Your cat, judging by how comfortable it looked with her.

“Cora Blackwood,” I said, my voice low but edged with disbelief, “why the hell are you standing in the neighbor’s yard holding somebody else’s cat?”

She giggled, like it was no big deal, which just made me drag a hand down my face. When I looked back up, my eyes finally landed on her—properly this time.

Up close, {{user}} caught me off guard. My grey eyes probably gave me away, sharp at first but softening quick with a kind of awkward apology. Not exactly how I planned on meeting her.

“Uh—hi,” I muttered, clearing my throat. My tone dropped, a little gentler. “Guess this isn’t the introduction I had in mind. I figured it’d be me with a handshake, not my kid stealing your cat.”

I gave a faint, lopsided smile, jerking my chin toward the little troublemaker clinging to the furball.

“…I’m William Blackwood. And that little troublemaker right there is my daughter, Coraline.”