Page 53 of Heart of a Hero

I cleared my throat and pointed to Nora’s belly. “And another grandchild on the way.”

Figured it was better to say something, in case my dad hadn’t already told everyone. Of course, if they heard everything I just said to Nora, then they’d realize the baby wasn’t mine. Then again, in the world of the Dixie Reapers, when had that meant a damn thing? A lot of the kids here weren’t biologically the children of a Dixie Reaper. Didn’t make them any less theirs, and I felt the same about this baby.

My parents shook their heads and my grandfather grunted. None of them were surprised. And I’d never tell them the baby wasn’t biologically mine unless it became necessary. Let them think what they wanted. After all, I was the son and grandson of Dixie Reapers. Knocking up the woman I loved wouldn’t have been out of the realm of possibility. I’d just be taking a page from their books.

As I looked around at the faces of the people I loved most in this world, I felt a sense of completeness wash over me. This was what I had been searching for all my life, even if I hadn’t realized it until now. A family, bound together by love and acceptance.

Until Foster went and ruined the moment.

“Just so we’re clear, I’m not tying the knot anytime soon. No girlfriends either, so… don’t even think about grandchildren from me,” he said, eyeing his parents.

“You know, if you were coming all this way from Oklahoma, you could have at least brought your sister,” my grandfather said.

“Hmm. Well, I could have but…” Foster looked to his mom for help and Darian sighed.

“Isy is pregnant, and she’s on bed rest. The doctor isn’t sure she’ll be able to go full-term, so that’s why she hasn’t told everyone.” Darian placed a hand on my grandfather’s leg. He hadn’t been called Bull without good reason. He looked seconds away from going on a rampage. “Once she’s ready to deliver, I thought we’d go stay there for a few days to help out.”

“Tell her I said congratulations.” That little shit hadn’t said a word when I’d spoken to her. I’d be sure to bring that up when I called her next time. But I was genuinely happy for her.

Once Darian had my grandfather calm once more, Foster set up a wireless speaker and used his phone to play Christmas songs. The rest of the night was spent with good friends, laughter, and making the best of memories.

Epilogue

Dawson

I jolted awake to the sound of Taylor’s excited voice piercing through the early morning quiet. “Daddy, Daddy!” she called out, her little footsteps pattering down the hallway. My heart seized in my chest at hearing that word directed at me. Daddy. It would take me a few days to get used to it.

I glanced over at Nora, who was blinking awake beside me, a sleepy smile spreading across her face. We threw back the covers and hurried out of bed, rushing to open the door. Taylor stood in the hall, bouncing up and down in excitement.

“Santa came, he came!” she exclaimed. “I peeked and saw all the presents!”

“Did he now?” I swooped Taylor up into my arms, savoring the way she wrapped her little arms around my neck, trusting me completely. I never thought I’d have this -- a family of my own, a child who called me Daddy. It was almost too much for my heart to take.

Thankfully, the apartment complex didnot, in fact, permit dogs, so the new puppy had stayed at my parents’ house for the night. I knew Taylor would want to go over there later anyway, and it meant I didn’t have to take it for a walk before we could open gifts.

Nora came up beside us, running a gentle hand over Taylor’s hair. “Well, what are we waiting for? Should we go see what Santa brought?”

“Yes!” Taylor wriggled out of my arms and took off down the hallway. Nora and I shared a smile before following after her, ready to make this a Christmas none of us would ever forget.

As we stepped into the living room, I froze, my breath catching in my throat. The Christmas tree stood tall and proud, its lights twinkling like stars against the deep green branches. Ribbons and ornaments in shades of red and gold adorned every bough, catching the light and sending it dancing across the room. But it was what lay beneath the tree that truly took my breath away.

Presents of every shape and size were piled high, their colorful wrapping paper a riot of patterns and hues. Far more than I remembered putting there, which meant my dad and grandfather had most likely broken in while we’d been sleeping. Once an outlaw, always an outlaw apparently.

In the very center was the dollhouse I’d hidden in my closet until after Taylor went to sleep last night. It was a work of art, with intricate details and tiny furniture visible through the windows.

“Oh, Dawson,” she breathed. “It’s perfect.”

I reached for her hand, twining our fingers together as we stood there, taking in the magic of the moment. Taylor was already darting forward, her eyes wide with wonder as she reached for the nearest present.

“Wait, baby girl,” I called out, my voice thick with emotion. “Let’s take a moment to appreciate all of this, okay?”

Taylor paused, turning back to look at us. Her face was alight with joy, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. “Okay, Daddy.”

I felt a lump rise in my throat at the sound of that word once again. Daddy. It was a title I never thought I’d wear, a role I never imagined I’d fill. But here I was, standing in the middle of a Christmas morning straight out of a dream, with the two most important people in my life by my side. Well, three if I counted the little life still inside Nora’s belly.

Nora squeezed my hand, her eyes meeting mine with a look of pure love and understanding. She knew, without me having to say a word, just how much this meant to me. Together, we moved forward, ready to embrace the magic of the moment and create memories that would last a lifetime.

A high-pitched squeal pierced the air as Taylor’s gaze landed on the dollhouse, her little hands flying to her mouth in awe. “Mommy, Daddy, look! It’s the dollhouse I wanted! And it has a doggy too!”

---