Page 87 of Wild Hearts

I moved to the floor where I handed her one box after the other. "I can't believe you got me a computer. It's exactly what I needed for school. How did you know which one to get?"

"I did my research."

She hugged me tight. "Thanks, Dad." She pulled away, swiping at the tears. "Mom wouldn't have been able to afford something like this."

"I wish I'd known. I always would have supported you in any way I could."

"I know you would have. I have a pretty good idea of what kind of person you are. Loyal. Kind. Generous. Loving."

"You're the same."

When she reached for the painting, my heart jumped into my throat. Would she like it?

She ripped through the paper while my heart raced. She turned the canvas over to reveal the horses running through the snow. The combination of the dark brown against the white backdrop was gorgeous. But I wasn't a connoisseur of art, and I wasn't a teenager. I had no idea what she would think.

She ran a hand over the painting. "This is an original."

"Addison and I found it when we went to the market a few weeks ago. It's the same artist who did the scene above the fireplace. I thought you might like something for your room, but if you don't like it—" I didn't know why it was so important to me that she like it, but it was.

Dakota lifted her head to the larger painting. "This is the most beautiful thing I've ever owned."

I immediately relaxed, the tension dropping off my shoulders.

She lifted her gaze to mine. "Can we hang it? I don't want anything to happen to it."

"Let's do it." I grabbed a hammer and a sturdy nail for it and waited while she considered the perfect spot. Then she decided to hang the framed photos I'd given her too. That took an hour, and by then, we were hungry again.

I made hot chocolate and put out some cookies my aunt had made and dropped off earlier in the week. Dakota had hit play on some holiday tunes, and there was a fire burning in the hearth. It was the perfect day.

I carried the mugs into the living room where Dakota was sitting cross-legged on the floor. "What did you and your mother do on Christmas?"

Dakota accepted the mug with a grateful smile. "We opened presents in the morning, and then we went to my grandparents' house for an early dinner. It was nice, but it always felt a little lonely. Like I should have a sibling to share it with or something. Most of my friends have one if not two or more siblings."

"And two parents?"

Dakota nodded. "Not all but most."

"I'm sorry I missed out on all your other Christmases. Going forward, I don't want to miss a single thing."

Dakota smiled sadly.

"You should probably call your grandparents today and wish them a Merry Christmas." I thought it was a little odd they hadn't sent any presents. But maybe they were waiting for our trip to Virginia so they didn't have to ship anything.

"That's a good idea."

"But first you have a few more presents to open."

Dakota drank her hot chocolate while she leisurely opened the rest of her gifts. She seemed to like every art supply and book I'd chosen for her. "If you don't like anything, we can exchange it. I wasn't sure exactly what you wanted or needed."

"These are great. This is what I need."

"I looked at what you already had."

There was one more present. This was one I guessed at. I had no idea if she needed one, but I suspected she might. It was a huge box.

"I can't imagine what else you could possibly have gotten me."

"You'll have to open it and see."

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