Chapter Sixteen
Dawson
I parked the truck in front of my parents’ house, its festive lights twinkling like stars against the darkening sky. It hadn’t been decorated like this when I’d been here before, which meant Dad had likely done this for Taylor. Nora smiled at me as I cut the engine, her brown eyes warm with anticipation.
“Ready?” I asked, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Let’s do this,” she replied.
We climbed out into the frosty air, our boots crunching on the freshly fallen snow. Our weather had taken an unexpected turn. Snow in this part of the state hardly ever happened. But it looked like we were getting a white Christmas this year.
I helped Taylor out of her car seat, the little girl bouncing with excitement. I kept an eye on her, making sure she didn’t slip and fall.
“We’re gonna see Grandma and Grandpa!” she exclaimed, her cheeks rosy from the cold.
I chuckled, ruffling her blonde curls. “That’s right, sweetheart. Just don’t be too disappointed in the Christmas tree. They use a fake one that’s seen better days.”
For whatever reason, now that all of us were grown up, Mom only put one up on Christmas Eve morning and by Christmas night it was usually packed away again. Except this year, she’d had a certain little girl ask if she could help decorate. I had a feeling the tree would be going up a lot earlier in the years to come.
We made our way up the front walk, Taylor skipping between us and swinging our hands. My heart swelled with love for my little family. After everything Nora and Taylor had been through, they deserved all the joy and magic of Christmas.
The front door swung open before we even reached the porch, warm light spilling out into the night.
“There’s my beautiful granddaughter!” Mom exclaimed, her face splitting into a radiant smile. She knelt down and opened her arms wide.
“Grandma!” Taylor squealed, releasing our hands and launching herself into Mom’s embrace. Mom laughed and peppered her face with kisses, making the little girl giggle.
Rising to her feet with Taylor on her hip, Mom turned her vibrant blue gaze to Nora and me. “Come here, you two,” she said, reaching out to pull us each into a fierce one-armed hug. “Merry Christmas! I’m so glad y’all could make it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Mom,” I said, kissing her cheek. The scent of warm vanilla and cinnamon enveloped me, transporting me back to childhood Christmases filled with laughter and love. Of course, I knew it wasn’t from something she’d baked. It was most likely an air freshener of some sort.
Mom ushered us inside, closing the door against the biting chill. “Everyone’s in the living room,” she said, setting Taylor on her feet. “Go on in and make yourselves at home.”
As we rounded the corner, the massive Christmas tree came into view, glittering with what had to be hundreds of twinkling lights and glinting ornaments. Garlands of evergreen draped across the mantel, and the sweet smell of sugar cookies wafted from the kitchen.
Wait. Sugar cookies? I eyed my mother. Since when did she know how to bake? And where did the monster of a tree come from? She usually put up a five-foot fake one. It was the same one she’d had for years, and it had started to look a little ragged.
Nora paused beside me, her eyes wide as she took it all in. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, slipping her hand into mine.
I lifted her fingers to my lips, brushing a kiss across her knuckles. “Not as beautiful as you,” I murmured, my heart so full it felt near to bursting. Nora ducked her head, color blooming on her cheeks. My compliments still made her blush. It was adorable as hell.
“Daddy, can we open presents now?” Taylor tugged on my other hand, practically vibrating with impatience. “Can we, can we, pleeeease?”
Daddy . I wanted to press my hand to my chest, my heart racing at the word. A glance at my mom told me she’d most likely been the culprit to plant the idea in Taylor’s head. But I didn’t mind. In fact, I needed to thank her for it.
Laughter rumbled in my chest. “Let’s go see what Grandma and Grandpa have planned first, okay, munchkin? I bet it’ll be something real special.”
Taylor pouted for a split second before her natural curiosity and enthusiasm took over once more.
“Okay!” she chirped brightly, skipping over to inspect the sparkling tree up close.
I pulled Nora close, so that she rested against my side. “Well, darlin’, ready to see what other surprises tonight has in store?”
Mom clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “All right, I know we usually wait until tomorrow to open gifts, but I thought we could start a new tradition this year.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she reached behind the tree, pulling out two beautifully wrapped packages. “Nora, Taylor, these are for you. A little something to welcome you to the family.”
Nora’s eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise. “Oh, Ridley, you shouldn’t have!”
“Nonsense,” Mom tutted, pressing the gifts into their hands. “You’re part of us now. And we take care of our own.”
She winked at me, and I felt a surge of gratitude for my amazing mother. I noticed my grandfather and Darian were unusually quiet. I didn’t dare look at either of them. If I did, there was no telling what might come out of their mouths. Since they were behaving, I was just going to stand here and pretend they weren’t there.
Taylor’s fingers were already tearing at the shimmering paper, her excitement palpable. “What is it, what is it?”
Nora helped her peel away the wrapping, revealing a… what the hell? I turned on my mom, needing an explanation. Before I could say anything, I heard it… a whining sound I could only attribute to the other part of the gift Taylor just opened.
Scratch came in with some mixed breed puppy in his arms and a smirk on his lips. Fucking hell.
“Doolittle wanted to congratulate you on finding your family,” he said. “And this little guy is for your daughter.”
He kneeled down and handed the puppy to Taylor, who immediately dropped the metal bowls and leash to gather the furry creature into her arms. It was nearly half her size already, and I had a bad feeling it was going to be a large dog.
“You know we live in an apartment, right?” I asked.
Mom shrugged. “For now.”
What the fuck did that mean? Dad wouldn’t meet my gaze, which told me my mother had been up to something. Sooner or later, I’d find out what it was. Probably sooner.
Scratch ran a hand over Taylor’s hair. “You met your great-grandpa and great-grandma yesterday, right?”
She nodded, and I nearly choked on my spit at the thought of someone calling Darian a great-grandma. Thankfully, she seemed to be taking it in stride.
“Well, I’m her dad.” Scratch groaned as he got back to his feet. “Shit. Does that make me a great-great-grandpa? I’m getting too old for this nonsense.”
Taylor giggled. “You said a bad word.”
“So I did.” He shook his head. “Just call me Scratch like everyone else does. Might make things simpler.”
“Or call him Grandpa Scratch like Foster, Isy, and Tara do,” Darian said. “Foster should be here soon. Same for Tara. I’m afraid they’re too old to be much fun for you to play with, though.”
“She’s always wanted a puppy. Thank you,” Nora said.
Well, hell. Guess we were figuring out if pets were allowed at the apartment, and if not, looked like I was buying a fucking house. Since my mother most likely came up with this scheme, along with Darian, I’d be hitting up my parents and grandparents to help with a down payment or closing costs.
Mom gathered them both in a warm hug, murmuring softly, “Welcome home, my darlings. Welcome home.”
As I watched my girls and mom embrace, their faces aglow with joy and love, I felt a lump form in my throat. This moment, right here? It was everything I’d ever wanted. Everything I’d fought so hard for.
Taylor raced over to me, the puppy clutched to her chest. “Daddy, can I take it out to play now?”
I laughed, scooping her up and spinning her around until she giggled breathlessly. “You bet, munchkin. In fact, since Grandpa Scratch was so nice to bring it all the way here from Florida, I think you should ask him to go with you.”
Scratch flipped me off and I just smiled back. Served him right.
As Nora and Mom headed into the kitchen to decorate sugar cookies, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I found myself face-to-face with Dad, his expression unreadable. He discreetly slipped something into my hand, and I glanced down to see a small velvet box nestled in my palm.
My heart began to race as realization dawned. This was it. The moment I’d been waiting for.
Dad leaned in close, his voice low and gruff. “Don’t screw this up, son. She’s a good one.”
I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the box. “I know, Dad. Trust me, I know.”
With a curt nod, he clapped me on the back and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. It was now or never. I wasn’t sure when but my grandfather and Darian had also left the room.
I went to stand beside the tree, then called out to Nora. She came in, smiling as she drew closer.
“What’s up?” she asked.
I took her hand in mine, marveling at how perfectly it fit. “Can we talk for a minute? There’s something I need to say.”
Her brow furrowed in concern, but she nodded, allowing me to lead her closer to the tree. The scent of pine and cinnamon filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of sugar cookies wafting from the kitchen. Jesus. My parents had really gone all out for this.
I turned to face her, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure she could hear it. “Nora, I know we’ve only known each other a short while, but they’ve been the best days of my life. You’ve shown me what it means to love and be loved, and I can’t imagine my future without you both in it.”
Her eyes widened, her lips parting in a soft gasp as I sank to one knee before her. I fumbled with the box, my fingers trembling as I opened it to reveal the glittering diamond ring nestled inside.
“I love you, Nora. More than I ever thought possible. You’re my everything, and I want to spend the rest of my life making you and Taylor as happy as you’ve made me.” I paused to place my hand over her belly. “And the baby. Will you marry me?”
Time seemed to stand still as I waited for her answer, my heart in my throat. This was the moment that would define the rest of our lives, and I knew with every fiber of my being I wanted nothing more than to be hers forever.
Tears welled up in Nora’s eyes, catching the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree and sparkling like precious gems. A mixture of surprise and overwhelming joy played across her face as she clasped her hands to her mouth.
“Yes,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “Yes, Dawson, I’ll marry you. I love you so much, and I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you.”
My heart soared as I slipped the ring onto her finger, marveling at how perfectly it fit. I didn’t know how he’d known I’d want to propose to her tonight, but I had a feeling my mother had helped with this one. The ring looked like it belonged on Nora’s finger, which meant my mother had most likely selected it. As much as I’d have liked to be the one to buy it, I knew this meant I had the full approval of my parents. That meant more to me than anything else.
I rose to my feet, pulling her into my arms and capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. In that moment, everything else faded away. The world narrowed down to just the two of us, our hearts beating as one.
Suddenly, cheers erupted from the doorway, startling us both. We turned to see Taylor, my mom and dad, and everyone else standing there, their faces beaming with excitement and love. Well, except Foster, who’d snuck in when I wasn’t paying attention. He just smirked at me. It seemed they had been watching the entire time, eagerly waiting for this moment.
“Yay! Mommy and Daddy are getting married!” Taylor exclaimed, bouncing up and down with glee. Her innocent excitement was contagious, and I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.
My parents stepped forward, their eyes shining with pride and happiness.
“Congratulations, you two,” Dad said, his gruff voice softening with genuine affection. “We couldn’t be happier for you both.”
Mom enveloped Nora in a warm hug, whispering words of welcome and love. My heart swelled with gratitude for my family, for their unwavering support and acceptance of the woman I loved and her daughter.
As we all gathered around the Christmas tree, basking in the joy of the moment, I knew that this was just the beginning of a beautiful future together. With Nora by my side and Taylor as our shining light, I was ready to face whatever challenges life might bring, knowing that our love would see us through.
Taylor, unable to contain her excitement, broke away from her mother’s side and ran straight toward my dad. Her little arms outstretched, she launched herself at him, squealing with delight.
“Grandpa!” she exclaimed, her innocent voice filled with love and trust.
My dad, caught off guard by the sudden display of affection, bent down to scoop Taylor up into his arms. His tough exterior melted away as he held her close, a smile spreading across his weathered face.
“Hey there, little darlin’,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “Looks like you’re stuck with me as your grandpa now.”
Taylor giggled, her blue eyes sparkling with joy. “I love you, Grandpa,” she declared, planting a sweet kiss on his bearded cheek.
I watched as Mom’s eyes welled up with tears, her hand pressed against her heart. She stepped closer to Taylor and Dad, reaching out to stroke the little girl’s curly hair.
“And I’m officially your grandma, sweetheart,” she said, her voice wavering with barely contained happiness. “We’re so lucky to have you and your mommy in our family now.”
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.