Page 58 of Say You Won't Let Go
Darlene wipes her face and looks between us. “I know you’ll give her the life she deserves. I wish I could be the mama she needs, but I can’t. I hate the idea of givin’ her up, but I know it’s the right thing—” She sobs and then manages, “If she ever asks about me, will you tell her I loved her and that’s why I let her go?”
Emily is out of her seat and pulling the young girl in her arms. They both cry, holding on to each other. “I’ll tell her how brave you are. I’ll tell her how strong you are. I’ll tell her how her beauty comes from you,” Emily promises. “I’ll love her for the both of us. She’ll have two mamas who will always do what’s right for her.”
She nods. “I’m ready.”
Darlene signs the papers, and it’s official. Mia is our daughter.
When she leaves the room, Emily bursts into tears, only this time, they are from joy.
* * * *
“Congratulations!” the room erupts with shouts and cheers and applause as we walk in.
Emily gives me a smirk and laughs. “I can’t believe you.”
“We needed to officially welcome Mia to our crazy clan.” I nudge her.
Our family rushes forward, giving hugs and gushing over our daughter.
“Welcome to fatherhood.” Wyatt chuckles. “Girls are a whole different world, man. They’re scary as hell. And she’s about to be five.”
Wyatt’s little girl is a handful, but it isn’t surprising considering she’s a Hennington and the first granddaughter. His mama spoils the shit out of her, and they’re paying for it now.
“I’m glad to be in the fatherhood club.”
He grins and slaps my shoulder. “I’m glad you are, too. You know, between Felicity, Hannah, and now Mia, we’ve basically created a whole new generation of our childhood,” Wyatt muses.
“I really hope Trent is retired by the time they hit their teens.”
“Right? Can you see him having to pick up his nieces and daughter?”
We both laugh.
Trent walks over and lifts his chin. “What’s so funny?”
Wyatt tells him what we were joking about, and his face falls.
“How the hell are you two laughing? I’ll be callin’ your asses to get them out of jail.”
“Let’s just hope they’re nothing like their mamas,” I say, not wanting to think of my daughter and jail at all.
He bobs his head up and down. “Especially with the boy crap. I’m not even going to entertain some little shit cowboy trying to date my daughter.”
“Damn right,” I agree.
“We know what their little pea brains are thinkin’ about,” Trent adds.
Don’t we ever.
“So, we’re in agreement to beat any little grabby bastard who comes near our girls?” I ask.
“Yup,” they both say in unison.
“Deal.”
“Well, look what the cat dragged in.” I smile and clap Wade’s hand as we shake.
He smirks. “I figured you might need someone to come kick your ass since Emily said you were being a jerk.”
