Page 95 of Enemy Daddy Next Door

“Likewise as always, D’Angelo.”

The attorney struts out of the room, dropping the document in front of me. “Congratulations, I guess.”

I stare in silence at Veronica’s messy signatures, touching the paper ever so gently, afraid it might evaporate into a million pieces if I’m not careful.

“She’s mine,” I whisper.

Sam claps a hand on my shoulder. “All yours.”

I’m not a touchy man. I’m a professional after all. However, I throw my arms around Sam, squeezing him tight. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Sam bear-hugs me back. “It’s moments like these that remind me how much I love what I do. You’re welcome, son.”

I might not have had a father who loved me the way I want it. But the way the men in my life have shown up for me through this – Kent, Sam, Hank – make me realize how worthy I am of the love he couldn’t give.

My heart is so full.

“Now that all ties are finally cut, go out there and get ‘er, huh?” Sam encourages, patting me on the back and out of the office.

I immediately clap eyes on Jessica who is sitting bewilderedly in Amy’s lap. The two of them must have seen Veronica storm off. I hope she didn’t say anything stupid to upset my daughter.

My daughter.

I barely make it a few steps before I fall to my knees and open my arms wide. “Jess –”

She leaps out of Amy’s lap and runs into my arms, giving me a big hug. The first hug in months where I haven’t been scared to lose her to Veronica. I can’t hold back the torrent of tears. They spill into her dark hair.

“Daddy, are you crying?” Jessica asks worriedly.

“I can’t help it, I’m sorry.”

She smiles, cupping my cheeks in her tiny hands. “It’s okay. Even daddies need to cry.”

I chuckle, though the tears keep rolling down. “Happy tears, baby. They’re happy tears.”

Over Jessica’s head, I see Sam briefing Amy on what has just happened. Her hand is clutched to her chest, a breathless smile on her face. When she turns to look at me, the picture completes.

I lift Jess into my arms as Amy comes toward us, then close the gap, wrapping my free arm around Amy’s back and kissing her softly. “She’s ours,” I whisper.

“I know. I heard.”

“You’re my mommy now, Amy? I mean – Mommy?” Jessica asks, her eyes flicking between both our faces.

I hesitate to answer, trying to read Amy’s expression. Jessica might be fully mine now in terms of the law. But really, she’s ours. Mine and Amy’s.

“That’s up to your daddy, I think,” Amy says, softly rubbing Jessica’s arm.

“If you’re comfortable with it, I…I don’t see why not,” I reply.

Our eyes lock. Less than a week ago, we were up in the air. Now, we are making a life together, deciding we are a real family, right here. It might be too quick by some standards. But for us, it all feels just right.

Amy smiles and then pinches Jessica’s chin familiarly. “Then ‘mommy’ it is.”

“Yay! Daddy and Mommy!” Jessica jovially shouts.

My heart is overflowing. She’s never been able to say that in her whole life. “What do you say we get some ice cream?”

“Mm. Only if there’s chocolate,” Jessica says.

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