“Mommy is back,” she squeals.

“Just look at how happy she is,” Giovanni says, setting her to the floor and standing to his feet.

Sophie runs to meet Gianna and hugs her.

“Ugh, my baby, I’ve missed you, too.” Gianna picks her up from the ground and hugs her, trailing kisses on her face.

Sophie squeals as she stretches her arms to me. “Daddy… Daddy!”

My heart still fucking melts even as the years pass.

How could I ever let Mateo steal this from me? He was such an asshole for thinking he could have my family just because I was absent.

“My princess.”

Sophie has opened a part of me I never knew existed. She has softened me up and has me wrapped around her finger. I love spending time with her, watching her discover new things, telling me stories she weaved in her imagination, and hearing her laughter fill the once empty halls of my home. She makes me want to be everything my father wasn’t to me.

Gianna hands her over to me and I place a kiss on her cheek.

She has grown up so fast. She’s got her mother’s beautiful face and I am so proud of her and of her mother.

She wraps her arms around my neck as I stretch my hand to greet Giovanni.

“She’s a strong one; almost beat me in an arm wrestle,” Giovanni laughs.

“Of course, she’s a De Santi.”

Gianna rolls her eyes as she stares at me.

“How is Mother?” I ask Giovanni.

“Desperately expecting a visit from her grandchild. You know how she loves family.”

Getting Gianna’s mother to forgive me and proving myself to her wasn’t easy. I don’t blame her for taking a while before opening up to the idea of having Gianna and Sophie living with me.

The rift between our families was huge and, for the longest time, I thought it was unsalvageable. Gianna and Giovanni both helped me with their mother to smooth things over so we could at least make small talk. The hurt is gradually starting to heal now.

“We will come over this weekend and I could let Sophie stay there for a couple of days. How is your new lady?” Gianna wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.

Giovanni smiles, rubbing his chin for a moment.

“When are you going to introduce her to us?” Gianna adds, staring mischievously at her brother.

Sophie is busy playing with my hair.

“Very soon.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”

“We. We will be waiting. I need to meet the woman who has you running out of our meetings to be with her,” I add.

He laughs.

“I’m hungry, Daddy,” Sophie whispers to me.

“Gianna, my princess says she’s hungry.”

“I’ll get Dorothy as I go in to change.” Gianna kisses her on the back of her head. “Give me a minute.”