Giddy Up, Daddy (Dirty Daddies 2024 Anthology #5)

Epilogue

Eight Months Later

Elle

I walk in the door after work, and can immediately tell something is up. I’m not surprised. It’s my birthday, and even though I told my Daddies not to do anything, I knew they wouldn’t be able to resist.

I shrug out of my jacket and hang it on the rack, kick my shoes off and take a moment to sag against the door. I actually like work, far more than just collecting a paycheck, and it turns out I’m pretty good at ad marketing. Sales are up and so is readership. I never thought I’d care, but I do. It fulfills me to know I’m contributing to that.

Violet comes down the stairs, Amelia in her arms. Both of them are wearing fancy dresses and wide smiles.

“Mama!” Amelia calls out when she sees me.

“Hi my sweet baby!” I push away from the door, and go to her, arms out. “You’re both awfully dressed up for a nice quiet dinner at home,” I say to Vi, shooting her a knowing glance.

She just shrugs. “You know those men. They love to dote on you. And thirty is a big deal.”

For a moment my breath hitches. Thirty. I’m not anywhere that I thought I’d be, but where I am is so much better. I take Amelia, cuddle her against my chest and ask, “Where are those men of mine?”

“We’re here,” Bo and Nate call out as they enter. Both of them are dressed to the nines and Bo takes Amelia before I can protest.

“We agreed to not make a big deal,” I chide, but I can’t deny I’m a little excited. A night with my little family is always welcome.

“No,” Nate counters, “ you said not to make a big deal. We did not agree to that.”

“Fine,” I huff. “What’s the plan? Where are we going?” I ask, even though the answer is fairly obvious. There’s only one really nice restaurant in town.

“Pacifica. Our reservation is in forty minutes. Go get ready.” Bo leans forward and brushes a kiss on my cheek and Nate does the same on the opposite side.

“Happy birthday,” they both say.

When I enter our bedroom, there’s a dress box on the bed, and I gasp when I recognize the logo from a high-end New York designer. I’m doing well as a ranch wife, and I’m so happy I don’t even miss the things in life I thought I enjoyed, like designer purses, expensive lunch dates, and endless shopping sprees. But occasionally my Daddies spoil me with the finer things in life, and I don’t hate it when they do.

Thirty-five minutes later, I enter the living room, wearing the new dress, an older bag and shoes, and some of my favorite diamond jewelry. I might be overdressed for Blue River, but I don’t care.

My Daddies don’t care either, and they’re a bit overdressed themselves. I like that they can match my extra-ness at times. They never make fun of me or make me feel like a diva for liking nice things.

“You’re stunning,” Nate says.

“Shall we go?” Bo extends his arm. The five of us make our way out to the SUV Nate bought when we realized that Violet was more like an adopted daughter to us than just a nanny and we make the quick drive to the restaurant.

The parking lot is full. Unexpectedly so for a Wednesday night. “You made a reservation, right?” I ask nervously as I glance around the lot.

“Mmmm,” Nate murmurs.

When we walk up to the restaurant, a sign on the door says, Closed For A Private Party.

“What did you do?” I hiss when Bo pulls it open anyway.

I don’t have to wait long to find out. The chorus of “Surprise!” rings out as soon as I step over the threshold, and even though I’d known something was up, I hadn’t expected this. Twinkle lights hang creating an air of ambience, soft but upbeat music plays. A stunningly decorated three-tier cake sits in the center of a buffet table adorned with gorgeous floral pieces—no roses in sight. Cater-waiters walk by with trays of champagne in crystal glasses.

Nearly the whole town had turned out. Elle and Mack are here, and the Mayors King. The owners of neighboring ranches, Everyone from the paper, Violet’s friends from the Rose Center.

Damon and Finn are here with their baby girl, Sabrina. They have a crowd around them as usual. Even though she’s a hometown girl, Blue River folks still haven’t quite gotten used to a celebrity living in their midst. To tell the truth, I still get a little starstruck whenever she’s around too.

The place is packed. “Wow!” I cry. “For me? You guys!” I turn to kiss my Daddies and hug Violet, then wade into the crowd to mingle, taking all the hugs and well wishes I’m offered.

The crowd is friendly, but there’s a slight tension still, a buzz of anticipation in the air that makes me uneasy.

As I always do when I feel off, I sidle up to Elle. “Hey babe, what’s going on? Why does it feel like the party hasn’t started yet?”

“What? Oh, um… I dunno.” Elle’s hesitation and the way her gaze darts around the space tells me she’s lying.

“Eleanor.” A voice from my left side stops me in my tracks.

I turn, my heart pounding, to see the man I hadn’t seen or heard from since the day he’d cut me off. “Father.”

My brain races. My palms are clammy. I’d all but written him out of my life, and I’d come to terms with what I thought I’d left behind not being big losses after all.

But it was all pretty easy to do when I didn’t have to face my father or explain my choices. Now I’m wondering what he’d think. How he’ll judge me. How to introduce him to Bo, Nate, Amelia and Violet. What he’ll think. If it will ruin this night that my Daddies have worked so hard to make so special.

And then it hits me. He’s here. In Blue River. At Pacifica. During the exact time my birthday party is going on. A private, closed-to- the-public event. This isn’t a coincidence.

As if perfectly timed to match my thoughts, my family steps up behind me just as Elle and Mack step away to give us space.

“How?” I stammer. “What?”

“Surprise, baby,” Nate says, kissing my cheek. I nearly jump away from his touch, but he extends his hand to my father, and says smooth as silk, “Nate Bowery. We spoke on the phone.”

“Right.” My father beams at Nate as he would any business associate he was trying to impress.

What is happening?

“And I’m Bo, Sir. Bo Harris.”

“Very pleased to meet you.” My father zeroes in on Amelia in Bo’s arms while I wait for the other shoe to drop.

“And this must be the grandbaby I’ve heard so much about.” My father reaches for Amelia while I stand there with my mouth hanging open.

Seriously, what is happening?

“Father, I…” I stutter. I don’t even know what to say.

But my father just leans forward to kiss my cheek. “Happy Birthday, Elle.” He whispers in my ear, “We’ll talk soon. I have to admit I was surprised to hear you were in Blue River and engaged, and even more surprised to learn about your unconventional family, but I’m proud of you, Eleanor.”

“You are?” I’m so surprised, I practically yell the question.

My father’s smile has a hint of a smirk in it. “I am. You’ve settled down, you’re a wife, a mother, making a family, a home. I hear you’ve got a job and that you’re quite good at it, and you are obviously well loved.” He nods. “It looks like you’re doing something right, my dear. A lot of somethings.”

“You… You’re not upset?” I shake my head, trying to process what I’m hearing but it almost doesn’t compute. My father is smiling wide, bouncing Amelia in his arms.

“Upset?” He frowns. “No. You’re happy, healthy and thriving. What would I have to be upset about?” He glances around then lowers his voice. “Your… men have made it very clear that they are more than happy to take care of you in every way and that my money is not needed. But it’s not my money, Eleanor. The trust is for you, and I’ll be releasing it to you first thing in the morning.”

I blink, stunned as he smiles and dances away with Amelia still in his arms. I turn, and all but fall into my Daddies’ arms.

“Did… did you hear that?”

“We did.” Nate smiles, pulls me into his arms and kisses the top of my head. “I know that means a lot to you, and I’m happy for you.”

“It doesn’t.”

“Pardon?” Bo’s scrunched eyebrows indicate his confusion again.

“The money. My father’s approval. I’m grateful for it, and shocked, but it doesn’t mean a lot to me. Not anymore. I let go of the idea of ever having either a while ago. And you know what? I’ve been happier for it. I know now that I have worth and that I can stand on my own two feet, and what’s more, I know you two will always catch me if I fall.”

“Damn straight,” Bo mutters.

“So I shouldn’t have called your father and demanded he get on a plane and come out here?” Nate jokes.

I pull away and smile up at him. “Well, you didn’t need to, but I’m very glad you did. I didn’t think I could be any happier than I already was, but I am.” I squeeze his waist in a quick hug and rise up on my tippy-toes to kiss Bo’s cheek.

“I love you, Daddies.”

“We love you too, babygirl,” they answer in unison. “Happy Birthday. We hope it’s your best year ever.”

I just smile, and place a hand on my still-flat belly. I know it will be. My hunky cowboy Daddies have made certain of that.

The End