Page 89 of Secret Baby Daddies
And, we did. Until the sun rose and we were all too exhausted to move. It was just better to get all that lecturing out of the way so we could all move on. Such a hardship.
Epilogue
Harley
Three Years Later
I looked up and spotted a giant bouquet with legs coming towards me. Annoyance bit at me. Sitting in my flower shop, swollen ankles propped up, I couldn’t seem to get it through my dad’s head that the way to my heart was not premade arrangements. I was already sighing when the bouquet shifted and it was my dad standing there, a hopeful smile on his face. I bit off the sigh and took a deep breath. Things were still tense between us. He wanted to be involved in my life, be involved with his grandson, but it wasn’t easy for me.
It was easier to think I could forgive him for all the times he’d abandoned me before I had Owen. The moment I held his tiny body in my arms I knew without a doubt there would never be a time when I could just walk away from him. Ever. I knew my husbands felt the same way. The thought of turning my back on Owen, of letting strangers raise him, it was enough to make me queasy.
Dad never stopped trying, though. I’d give him that. He stood across the counter from me and started pulling flowers out of the bouquet.
“I know. I know you don’t want prearranged flowers but I wanted to come see you while I was in town and I couldn’t get my hands on a bunch of flowers that weren’t already put together. Apparently there’s a shortage happening around Dallas because some hotshot florist is buying everything up.”
“Is someone talking about me? I heard hotshot and just knew it was about me.” Maddox came out of the back and stood behind me, automatically rubbing my tense shoulders and pressing a kiss to the side of my head. “Harvey.”
“I was talking about my beautiful, amazing daughter. This place is doing so well, Harley. I was thinking about what I could do with—”
“No. I don’t want help, of any kind. I won’t let my husbands help me so there’s not a chance I’d take help from anyone else. As much as I appreciate having smart businessmen around me, I want to do it on my own. And I am.” I nodded towards the help wanted sign in the front window. “I have a staff of eight, have been doubling my profits each year, and I’m also raising a little boy and growing a little girl all at the same time.”
Jace came in from the back and raised his eyebrows at me.
“I’d like to think we help with raising the kid.”
I cut him a look.
“I know it was you who turned my alarm off this morning. I’m annoyed at you so no, you can’t have any credit right now.”
“You needed rest. I’m not sorry.” He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. It only took me being silent for ten seconds for him to break. “Okay, I am sorry. Don’t be mad at me. I just want to take care of you, little girl.”
“Can you believe he did that? I think you should definitely move me up on your favorites list!” Luc called from the back, his voice filled with happiness. I didn’t need to see his face to know he was grinning.
“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response because you wouldn’t bring me to work until I’d eaten enough to feed a small army!” I looked at Dad and sighed. “You can stop taking the bouquet apart, Dad.”
He looked at the mess he’d made and sighed. “I’ll get it right one of these days, Harley.”
Owen babbled happily when Luc brought him out.
“We’re having a party for Harley’s birthday at the end of the month. We’d like it if you’d come.”
I watched Dad closely for any signs he’d try to get out of it. I was still waiting on him to go back to the same man who never put me first. It was the reason I hadn’t been willing to invite him myself. I couldn’t help holding my breath where he was concerned. Therapy helped but there was still a healthy chunk of daddy issues that hadn’t been tackled yet.
“I’d love to! What can I bring?” Dad smiled warmly at me, even though I knew he was dying to get his hands on Owen. Owen, bless him, hadn’t been failed by him yet and was eagerly reaching for his distant grandfather.
I shrugged like it didn’t mean everything to me.
“Just yourself.”
Luc winked at me before handing Owen off to his grandpa. He came around the counter and planted a kiss on my mouth.
“I love you, brave girl.”
And that easily, all of their morning shenanigans were forgiven. My husbands were cut from a different cloth than my father. They showed up for me every single minute of every single day. No matter what I needed, no matter how big or small, they were there. Even more than that, they were steady fathers. Owen was going to grow up knowing his dads love and cherish him.
“I love you, too. So much. Thank you.” I cupped his face and pulled him closer for another kiss. “Any word on Belinda?”
Just like always, all three of my husbands groaned when I brought up my car. If they hadn’t loved her before she broke down on the side of the road, afterwards they acted like she’d plotted my assassination. It was a never-ending headache for them because I wouldn’t give her up. She’d gone back to shutting herself off with the push of the hazard button, though, so currently they were winning the debate.
