His eyes moved over his name and address on the pale yellow envelope. There wasn't a return address, only a heart scrawled in black pen in the top left corner. The stamp was postmarked Decorah, IA. His calloused fingers turned the parcel over and a recently sharpened pocket knife slid smoothly across the sealed flap.

A smile graced his lips as he pulled out the card, already knowing who it was from. Still, he opened it and read the front of the card silently. It was a picture of an old truck, simliar to the one he'd given her years before, sitting on some grassy knoll.

Dad,

how can I tell you how much you mean to me?

His left thumb caught the bottom right corner and opened it slowly, taking in the swirly half print, half cursive writing that was so damn endearing to him.

Thank you for everything you've ever done for me. I think of you daily and you're always in my prayers. Happy father's day to the best dad I wish was mine! I love you!

Her words were always heartfelt and always made his eyes sting with tears. She was a great kid and he swore he'd always look out for her and Bobby always kept his promises.

She thought her dad took off on her mom when she was young, but truth be told, he was on the road, hunting monsters. Her mother had given her husband an ultimatum; either stick around or get lost.

He chose to get lost.

Just because you love someone, doesn't mean you have to stick around and screw up their lives.

Bobby was a close family friend of her parents and he never told her the truth. Didn't have the heart to do so. Instead, he'd attended school plays and softball games over the years and helped her mom fix the car or get the mower running, always making damn sure that kid knew how loved she really was.

Her dad loved her too, but he stayed gone, killing any evil he come across and keeping his family safe the best way he knew how. He didn't want his little girl growing up to be a hunter or having anything to do with that life in any way, shape or form.

Bobby's blurry eyes scanned the card again before he closed it, holding it close to his chest for a moment. He eyed the mantel over his fireplace and moved across his living room to place it up there with the all the others she'd sent him.

Hunting was a dangerous life.

That was no way to raise a kid and Bobby believed that with his whole heart.