Page 61 of A Very Daddy Christmas

I chuckle softly. “No, it does not. What are you trying to tell me, Cora?”

She stares at me for the longest minute, holding her breath as she nibbles on her lower lip. There’s definitely something on her mind, something she has yet to put into words.

“Nothing in particular,” she mumbles. “Just saying we should both let go of ourselves a bit more, kind of like Sebastian and Riggs are already doing.”

“They have fears of their own, you know. It’s not all black and white with them, either.”

“I’m well aware,” Cora replies. “But I have to give them both credit. Their coping mechanisms beat mine by a mile.”

“Mine too. Then again, maybe we’re wasting too much time being afraid.” I exhale sharply. “Maybe it’s time to overcome the what-if’s and do what we want to do. It could take us somewhere incredible.”

“Or to our collective doom.”

“You’re not helping, Cora.”

She laughs wholeheartedly, nuzzling my neck as I pull her even closer. Dario looks up at us and smiles, eager to show off his new artwork. It’s enough to end what I’m hoping was a constructive conversation between Cora and me— the kind of conversation that will make it easier for us in the coming days and weeks as the escrow deadline grows closer.

“Do you like it?” Dario asks.

Aylin shoots him a cool grin. “I think it’s awesome.”

“Oh, I love it!” Cora exclaims. “I feel like I’m walking into the forest, smack in the middle of October. Nicely done, Dario. I think we should get Waylan to frame it. Right?” She looks at me.

“Yeah, Dad, please?” Dario chimes in.

My heart stops. “Did you just call me Dad?” I manage, my voice merely a whisper.

“Are you mad?” Dario asks, his face scrunching up a bit.

“No, no, God, no, not at all,” I try to reassure him. “I’m… grateful.” And definitely about to cry unless I change the subject.

Dario picks up on the awkwardness and holds the drawing up again. “Do you like it? Dad?”

“I love it,” I say, stunned by how determined he is to double down on a most precious, sacred word. It fills my heart with joy and my soul with newfound courage as I kiss Cora’s cheek. “Wait until the guys hear about this.”

About an hour later, Sebastian and Riggs return. They don’t have any encouraging news, but it’s time for us to take the girls back to the bakery, so we grab two cars. Sebastian’s SUV has Riggs and the girls in the backseat, while Cora and Dario ride with me. It’s a quiet, early evening in Madison. There’s barely any traffic, so the ride is relatively short.

We pull up behind Sebastian’s SUV outside the bakery, and Dario hops out to join the others by the front door. Before we do the same, I give Cora’s wrist a gentle squeeze. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

“What’s wrong?” she asks with a subtle frown. She’s probably overthinking. Again.

“I spoke to a buddy of mine who’s a contractor,” I say. “He’s got a job opening for Carl.”

“No way!” Her eyes grow wide with sheer joy.

“Yes way,” I chuckle. “Mind you, he’ll have to be away for a week or two, here and there, but it’s good money, and the work is steady. My friend is always busy. In fact, he’s had to turn a few potential clients away this year because he didn’t have enough reliable construction workers to collaborate with.”

Cora is over the moon, fidgeting in her seat. I only want to see her like this from now on. Beaming like the morning sun,happiness dancing in her beautiful eyes, and hope sparkling in her gorgeous smile.

“Oh, he’s going to be so happy!” she says.

“I told my friend to give him a call, so Carl will be getting a wonderful surprise on Monday,” I reply, welcoming her soft kisses.

“Okay, so I’m going to keep my mouth shut then,” she laughs.

We join the others. Sebastian and Riggs are already smiling, aware of the news I just broke. Cora notices their expressions and laughs lightly. “You two knew.”

“It was Waylan’s thing. We figured it’s only fair he should be the one to tell you,” Sebastian replies.

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