Bearclaw Valley There's nothin' sweeter than my baby

Cole's jaw tightened as the question hung between them. He stared out toward the water, his expression unreadable, and for a moment, it seemed like he might not answer at all. Finally, he nodded, his voice clipped and deliberate.
Yeah, he said, the word heavy with unspoken weight. Had a daughter. His gaze flicked to her briefly, then back to the rippling surface of the pool.
Another pause. His brow furrowed as he leaned back against the willow’s roots, his paw idly tracing patterns on her back furs. Had a wife, too, he added, his tone even but lacking warmth. That didn’t last long. She left not long after my girl was born.
There was no bitterness in his voice, but there wasn’t much else, either. We were too young. He didn’t elaborate, didn’t offer any more than that. The words were like stones, solid and final.