Epilogue
JAY
Giggles erupted from the dance floor, and I smiled at the scene.
Nora held the young toddler’s hands as the two danced in a circle.
She was so good with Owen’s daughter, and it was obvious that she would be the best big sister when the time came.
And now that Sarah and I were married, I was hoping we could make that happen in the next year.
Nora caught my attention and waved excitedly. She was getting so big. Three was creeping up faster than I expected.
“Congratulations,” Owen said as he stepped up next to me. “How does it feel to be an old married guy now?”
“You might be old.” I smirked. “I’m still the youngest guy in the firehouse.”
The guys still continued to give me crap about it.
“How do you feel about that?” He tipped his head toward Logan, who was standing at the bar talking to Izzy.
“He better not be buying her a drink.” I narrowed my eyes. “She’s not twenty-one yet.”
And I didn’t care that she would be in only a few months.
Owen chuckled. “That wasn’t what I meant—”
“Dada.” Grace waddled toward Owen. “Dada.”
Owen met her halfway and scooped the young girl up into his arms.
“Daddy.” Nora skipped toward me and grabbed my hand. “Come dance with me.”
Drew had refused to sign away his parental rights, but we were holding out hope that he would sometime before he was released in twelve years. If not, it didn’t matter. Nora would always be my daughter. I didn’t need a piece of paper to prove it.
“Any time,” I said as I held her hands and helped her step up onto my toes.
After a few minutes, Sarah and Cece made their way back onto the dance floor. It was nice that the two of them had gotten close. Even Cece’s friend Kelly got along great with Sarah, and the three of them had become inseparable.
I scooped Nora up, nestling her into the crook of one arm, and wrapped my free arm around Sarah, pulling her close.
As I drank in the moment, my heart soared. There was nothing better than dancing with my girls.