“I think he’s in South America. Once David told him about all the evidence we had piled up on him, he quit and left. For good.”
“Good riddance,” Lexi said, softly, before looking at me. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I have my real family. That’s all I need.”
“Can you believe it?” Lexi laughed, “We’re all kinda related.”
“Thanks to Shelby,” Luke grinned and rubbed her hair.
“Do I get a candy?” she grinned. “Please?”
“No, sweetheart.” Lexi picked her up. “But you get something even better. You get the three of us, all here to love you for the rest of your life.” She kissed Shelby’s cheek and then looked at Anna. “Actually,” she grinned, “You get all four of us. For a lifetime.”
“And I get to be your flower girl too, right?” She danced around excitedly. “I get to throw flowers.”
“Yes, my love. We’re all one big happy family now.”
“My own forever family?” Shelby looked around the room and grinned before running back to me. “And you’re my papa.” I picked her up and held her close.
“I’m your papa, your brother, your Brycey, your everything, darling. I’m anything and everything you want me to be.”
“I love you, Papa.”
“I love you too, my darling.”
“You made all my dreams come true, Papa,” she whispered into my ear and I felt the tears prick my eyelids.
“And you made all my dreams come true as well, my beautiful girl. You healed my broken heart, my love. You healed my broken heart.”