Page 7 of The Santa Surprise

“I won’t lie, I’m scared, freaked out, and out of my element here, but I promise you I will make this right.”

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I step into the Pancake House and spot Aspen sitting at a booth by the window. She waves and I make my way over to her. I knew she was beautiful, but damn, Aspen’s a knockout. Her dark brown hair is in a braid that hangs over her shoulder and is covered by a cream-colored knitted hat with one of those brown pom poms on top.

“Hey, thanks for meeting me.” I tell her as I take a seat across from her. It’s a bit of a tight fit, with my gear on, but I’m used to it.

“Of course. I’m glad you wanted to meet.” Our waitress takes our order and then disappears. Aspen turns back to me. “I guess I’ll start from the beginning. That night I swear I thought we were careful. Ummm . . . I guess it’s the old cliché, I woke up one morning and threw up. I knew right then I was pregnant.”

“I’ve never had a one-night stand before, and I-I didn’t know your last name, I had no way to find you. I certainly just planned on raising her alone.”

Aspen sets a tablet on the table. “I saved all of her photos on here.” She turns it on and then hands it to me.

The first several are her in various states of her pregnancy. I start looking through the next batch of Dakota as a newborn. She was a gorgeous baby, and maybe I’m just biased, but I doubt it.

Our drinks are delivered. “What was her birth like?”

“Honestly, easy. I went to a midwife who practiced hypnobirthing. It helped me to stay relaxed, letting my body do its job. I did yoga up until her birth too, which I think helped. She weighed seven pounds eight ounces.” She takes a drink of her coffee.

One thing I notice is that they’re both smiling in every picture. “When is her birthday?”

“She’ll be four February third.”

I nod, as I continue looking at photos. “If I would’ve known, I would’ve been there.”

“I know—I don’t know how, but I just do.” She has a lot more confidence in me then she should.

I pause on a picture that looks recent. Dakota is sitting on Aspen’s lap and they have their heads turned, looking at each other with big smiles on their faces. “She’s so beautiful.”

“She is. She’s such a good girl. Our daughter is very inquisitive and smart. I’ve been very lucky.”

Our waitress brings our food and we dig in. Conversation stalls and while I eat my burger I flip through more pictures. A warm feeling spreads through my body. My heart beats wildly in my chest, and I know what I want. “I’d like to meet her.”

She swallows the bite of her chicken strip and smiles. “That’s great. I’d love that. Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow night? I want to talk to her about you tonight.”

“I’d love to.”

We finish eating and while she’s in the bathroom I pay the check. She comes back out and I help her with her coat. “I take it, you paid the bill.”

“I did, my mom would tan my hide if I didn’t.”

I lead her outside, stopping next to my patrol SUV. She turns to me. “Is there anything you won’t eat?”

“Nope, I’m easy.”

As she walks away, she hollers, “I’ll text you my address tomorrow.”

I give her a wave, before climbing into my Explorer and then pulling away. Tomorrow I get to meet my daughter—I can’t wait.

Chapter Six

Aspen

I step into Dakota’s doorway, watching as she plays with her baby doll. She’s obsessed with it, and carries it with her, just about everywhere. “Hey, baby.”

She smiles up at me. “Hi, Mommy. I pway wif my baby.”

I get down on the floor next to her. Leaning down I kiss the top of her head, inhaling the scent of the baby shampoo I use on her—oh hell, I won’t lie, I use it too. My hair has never looked better.

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