Epilogue
Dawson
I jolted awake to the sound of Taylor’s excited voice piercing through the early morning quiet. “Daddy, Daddy!” she called out, her little footsteps pattering down the hallway. My heart seized in my chest at hearing that word directed at me. Daddy. It would take me a few days to get used to it.
I glanced over at Nora, who was blinking awake beside me, a sleepy smile spreading across her face. We threw back the covers and hurried out of bed, rushing to open the door. Taylor stood in the hall, bouncing up and down in excitement.
“Santa came, he came!” she exclaimed. “I peeked and saw all the presents!”
“Did he now?” I swooped Taylor up into my arms, savoring the way she wrapped her little arms around my neck, trusting me completely. I never thought I’d have this -- a family of my own, a child who called me Daddy. It was almost too much for my heart to take.
Thankfully, the apartment complex did not , in fact, permit dogs, so the new puppy had stayed at my parents’ house for the night. I knew Taylor would want to go over there later anyway, and it meant I didn’t have to take it for a walk before we could open gifts.
Nora came up beside us, running a gentle hand over Taylor’s hair. “Well, what are we waiting for? Should we go see what Santa brought?”
“Yes!” Taylor wriggled out of my arms and took off down the hallway. Nora and I shared a smile before following after her, ready to make this a Christmas none of us would ever forget.
As we stepped into the living room, I froze, my breath catching in my throat. The Christmas tree stood tall and proud, its lights twinkling like stars against the deep green branches. Ribbons and ornaments in shades of red and gold adorned every bough, catching the light and sending it dancing across the room. But it was what lay beneath the tree that truly took my breath away.
Presents of every shape and size were piled high, their colorful wrapping paper a riot of patterns and hues. Far more than I remembered putting there, which meant my dad and grandfather had most likely broken in while we’d been sleeping. Once an outlaw, always an outlaw apparently.
In the very center was the dollhouse I’d hidden in my closet until after Taylor went to sleep last night. It was a work of art, with intricate details and tiny furniture visible through the windows.
“Oh, Dawson,” she breathed. “It’s perfect.”
I reached for her hand, twining our fingers together as we stood there, taking in the magic of the moment. Taylor was already darting forward, her eyes wide with wonder as she reached for the nearest present.
“Wait, baby girl,” I called out, my voice thick with emotion. “Let’s take a moment to appreciate all of this, okay?”
Taylor paused, turning back to look at us. Her face was alight with joy, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. “Okay, Daddy.”
I felt a lump rise in my throat at the sound of that word once again. Daddy. It was a title I never thought I’d wear, a role I never imagined I’d fill. But here I was, standing in the middle of a Christmas morning straight out of a dream, with the two most important people in my life by my side. Well, three if I counted the little life still inside Nora’s belly.
Nora squeezed my hand, her eyes meeting mine with a look of pure love and understanding. She knew, without me having to say a word, just how much this meant to me. Together, we moved forward, ready to embrace the magic of the moment and create memories that would last a lifetime.
A high-pitched squeal pierced the air as Taylor’s gaze landed on the dollhouse, her little hands flying to her mouth in awe. “Mommy, Daddy, look! It’s the dollhouse I wanted! And it has a doggy too!”
I couldn’t help but grin at her enthusiasm. Even though she’d admitted to taking a peek, I loved that she could still be so enthusiastic over it. My heart swelled with pride and joy. I had spent hours searching online for the perfect dollhouse, finally finding one at a store nearby. I’d wanted to make Taylor’s first Christmas here as magical as possible. Seeing the pure delight on her face, I knew I’d made the right choice.
“Wow, Tay-Tay, Santa really outdid himself this year, didn’t he?” I asked, crouching down beside her to get a closer look at the intricately designed toy.
Taylor nodded vigorously, her blonde curls bouncing with the motion. “Can I play with it now, Daddy? Please?”
I chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. “Of course, baby girl. That’s what it’s here for. We can take our time opening presents.”
As Taylor eagerly began exploring the dollhouse, carefully arranging the tiny furniture and chattering away to the miniature family, Nora and I stood back and watched, our arms around each other’s waists.
“Look at the detail on that thing,” Nora marveled, shaking her head in amazement. “The little curtains, the patterned rugs… it’s like a real house, just shrunk down.”
I nodded, my eyes tracing over the intricate woodwork and delicate paint job. It was clear that whoever had made this dollhouse had poured their heart and soul into every inch of it. Just like I had poured my heart and soul into this new life with Nora and Taylor.
“It’s perfect,” I murmured, pressing a soft kiss to Nora’s temple. “Just like our little family.”
With excitement bubbling in the air, we gathered around the tree and began unwrapping our presents one by one, taking turns and savoring each moment. Taylor’s face lit up with every gift she opened, her squeals of delight echoing through the living room.
I watched as Nora helped Taylor tear off the colorful wrapping paper, revealing a set of princess dresses and a glittery tiara. “Look, Mommy! I can be a real princess now!”
I knew damn well I hadn’t put those there, which meant they were from my family. I’d give them shit later about breaking and entering, but I’d also be sure to thank them for being so amazing to Taylor and Nora.
Nora laughed, her eyes sparkling with joy. “You’ve always been a princess, sweetheart. But now you have the perfect outfit to match.”
As they continued to explore Taylor’s new treasures, I reached for a gift wrapped in shimmering silver paper, my heart pounding with anticipation. I couldn’t help but wonder what Nora had chosen for me.
I’d already unwrapped the package from Taylor, the one she’d obviously bought with Akira. I couldn’t think of anyone else who would recommend gloves I could use while riding my motorcycle. Not only were they useful, but my little girl had given them to me, so I’d cherish them.
My hands trembled slightly as I carefully peeled back the wrapping, revealing a leather-bound photo album. I ran my fingers over the smooth surface, a lump forming in my throat as I realized the significance behind the gift. It wasn’t just a place to put any photos, but ones of our family. Even though I hadn’t yet proposed to her when she’d bought it, it was clear she’d been thinking of the future when she’d been shopping for presents. We’d talked one night about how I wanted to take as many family pictures as I could, so the memories would last even when they began to fade in our minds.
“Nora, this is… it’s perfect. Thank you.”
She smiled, reaching out to take my hand in hers. “It’s just the start. We’ll fill as many as we can in the years to come.”
As we continued to unwrap our presents, the love and gratitude that flowed between us was almost tangible. Taylor’s laughter, Nora’s gentle touches, the way our eyes met and held all wove together to create a tapestry of pure, unfiltered happiness.
My fingers trembled as I reached for the next gift, a small box wrapped in red paper. Tearing off the wrapping, I lifted the lid to reveal a folded T-shirt nestled inside. Carefully, I picked it up and unfurled it, my breath catching in my throat as I read the words emblazoned across the front: “World’s Best Dad.”
It was such a simple gift, and yet it held a wealth of meaning. In that moment, I felt the weight of my new role as a father, the responsibility and the joy that came with it. And I knew, with a certainty that rooted me to the spot, I would do anything to live up to those words.
“Nora, I… You have no idea how much this means to me.”
She reached out, her fingers brushing against my cheek in a feather-light caress. “I think I do, Dawson. I see it in the way you are with Taylor, the way you love her and protect her. You’re an amazing father, and I’m so grateful to have you by my side.”
Her words wrapped around my heart, filling me with warmth. I leaned into her touch, my eyes fluttering closed as I savored the moment.
Taylor’s small arms tightened around my leg, her face pressed against my thigh as she whispered, “You’re the best daddy ever.”
The words hit me like a tidal wave, threatening to sweep me away in a torrent of emotion. I felt my breath catch in my throat, my heart swelling with a love so fierce and all-consuming that it nearly brought me to my knees.
Overwhelmed, I reached out to cup her cherubic face. Her blue eyes, so full of innocence and adoration, met mine, and in that moment, I saw the world through her gaze. A world where I was her hero, her protector, her everything. I wondered if she knew she had my heart and had from the moment I’d met her and Nora.
“And you’re the best daughter a daddy could ask for,” I said, pulling her into a tight embrace.
Her tiny arms wrapped around my neck, her soft curls tickling my cheek as she nestled closer. I breathed in her scent, a mix of strawberry shampoo and the sweet, innocent essence of childhood, and felt a fierce protectiveness surge through me.
Surrounded by the two people I loved most in this world, I knew I had found my true purpose. Not in the roar of a motorcycle engine or the rush of adrenaline that came with being a part of the Swift Angels MC and the fire department, but in the simple, profound joy of being a father and a husband.
And as Taylor’s laughter filled the room, a sound as pure and sweet as the first snowfall of winter, I knew I would move heaven and earth to keep that joy alive, to protect and cherish the precious family we had built together.