CHAPTER 25

Levi

“DADDY, COME ON! I want to see the stingways!”

We’re back at the aquarium today, just Emmy, Lily, and me. I felt like we needed a day to get out of the house and have some fun again. I wanted to go to the movies, but Lily insisted, so here we are. She’s holding tight to both mine and Em’s hands, giggling and bouncing around. We probably shouldn’t have let her eat ice cream at ten in the morning, but fuck it.

Today is a big day for us.

It’s the first day of the rest of our lives together, forever. Every day Em gets stronger, gets better, and I couldn’t be any prouder of her. I’m in awe of her strength and every time I think she’ll regress, fall back into her fears, she pushes forward, fights them.

Her nightmares are finally starting to go away; she’s only had one in the last couple weeks. She sleeps at night again. Sometimes I hear her get up to check on Lily, but I know that’s something that goes farther than what happened to her. This whole nightmare started with someone trying to take Lily. I still have moments where I catch myself being extra watchful, refusing to take my eyes off her, forcing her to hold my hand even when it’s not necessary.

Lily breaks the connection with us and goes running. I see the fear wash over Emmy, but then she closes her eyes and takes several deep breaths. Squeezing her hand, I watch Lily standing in front of the touch tank, waiting her turn to feel the stingrays in the water. After a moment, Em squeezes back and I know she’s okay.

Stepping forward, we help Lily climb up on the bench, laughing when she touches the stingray and squeals. Emmy holds her phone up and we both smile at her, happiness written all over our faces. When another one goes by, I sink my hand into the water and let it run under my fingers, feeling the almost slimy skin. Shivering, I yank my hand back and laugh when I see the look on both Em’s and Lily’s faces.

“What?” I ask, playing it off like it was nothing.

“Gross, huh?” Emmy laughs, covering her mouth with her hand.

Shaking my head, I stand up and pull Lily into my arms, resting her on my hip.

“How about we go see the sharks, baby?” I ask Lily, who claps in delight.

“Oh yes! Let’s go,” she shouts, pointing in the direction of the exhibit.

Laughing, I carry her and take Emmy’s hand in mine. Together we let ourselves get lost in the wonderful world of the sea, not leaving until it’s closing time and we have no choice.

When we pull into our driveway hours later, Lily is sound asleep in the back seat and Emmy is looking beat next to me. Without waking her, I carry my baby inside and get her into bed, pulling the blankets up to her chin and shutting off the light. Backing out of her room, I step into the hallway to find Emmy waiting for me.

“I know it’s early, but I think I’m gonna turn in. Want to watch a movie together?” she asks softly.

I nod and follow her into our bedroom. Stripping to my boxer briefs, I climb into bed and wait for my girl. Em heads into the bathroom and comes out a minute later in one of my old T-shirts and a pair of sleep shorts, hair pulled up in a ponytail.

“Find anything good?” she asks as she climbs into the bed. Plugging her phone in, she pulls the blankets back and gets comfy next to me, resting her head on my bare chest.

“We can either watch some new Marlon Wayans comedy or we can watch the greatest superhero known to mankind,” I say, clicking through the channels.

“Deadpool?” she asks, and I laugh.

“Yes, ma’am,” I joke, putting the movie on.

“Well, for the record, he’s not the best superhero. He’s just the superhero with the best ass.”

Emmy begins giggling when I toss her back onto the bed, falling down on top of her.

“Care to repeat that, baby?” I growl, placing kisses to her jaw, suppressing the urge to bury myself deep inside her when her body shivers.

“I said Ryan Reynolds has the best ass ever.” She tries to wiggle away from me but I cage her in, taking her lips with mine. In seconds, we’re both panting and worked up. She tears her mouth from mine and I look down at her, taking in her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.

“I love you, Mr. Jackson.”

“I love you too, Ms. Reese.”

“Let’s watch the movie, boyfriend with the best ass ever.”

“Now was that so hard to admit?”

Laughing, we get comfortable as the opening credits begin to roll.

It’s late evening, and I toss a few more blankets in the bed of my truck. Emmy is visiting her parents, so I’m gonna have some alone time with Lily, and I have a huge surprise planned for her. The bed is filled with soft pillows and blankets, and I packed a small cooler with a picnic dinner for us. My stomach is a bundle of nerves and I have no clue why. My little girl is my entire world, has been for her entire life.

This is important to me.

Ten minutes later, the truck is ready to go, so I head inside to where she’s playing with her dolls. Looking up at me from the couch, she smiles and I give her my best grin.

“Ready to go, Lily bug?”

“Yes, Daddy. Can I bring my bunny?”

“Absolutely. Go use the potty really quick, okay?”

Nodding, she bounds off the couch and goes racing for the bathroom. Ten minutes later, we’re heading down the road, Lily singing some song she loves from Trolls. Why she loves that movie, I have no idea. Personally, I think they’re creepy as all hell, but I digress. She gets excited when she sees us pull into my parents’ driveway, but I have to calm her down.

“Nana and Papaw aren’t home, baby. We’re driving down into the backyard, okay?”

“Okay,” she chirps, dancing along to the music.

Their backyard is only about an acre, but it’s cleared and level, so it’s perfect for tonight. Driving around the house, I pull down as far as I can go, the sun only just getting ready to set. Parking the truck, I shut off the engine and turn to face Lily.

“Ready, sweetheart?”

“Oh yeah!” she shouts, pumping her little fist.

Laughing, I mimic her and then get out of the truck. Pulling down the tailgate, I go around to get her out and then help her into the bed of my truck.

“What are we doing, Daddy?” she asks, sitting on the piles of blankets.

“Well, little lady, we’re gonna eat some turkey and cheese sandwiches, and then we can split the piece of chocolate cake I got us at the bakery. And then we’re gonna count the stars and talk.”

Lily seems excited with the idea and gives me a thumbs-up. Climbing up into the truck with her, I sit cross-legged and dig into the cooler, handing her a sandwich I cut into quarters. We eat in comfortable silence, Lily completely enthralled with the sunset.

An hour later, we’re lying on our backs, covered with a soft blanket.

“Now that, Lily, is the Big Dipper, you see?” I ask, pointing up at the sky.

She laughs and holds her own finger up too.

“I see it, Daddy. It’s right thered!”

I show her a few more of the constellations I know and then turn to look at her. In the soft glow of the night sky, my baby looks more beautiful than any little girl could, her wide eyes filled with wonder and excitement.

“Hey, Lily bug?”

“Hey, Daddy.”

“Can I ask you something important?”

Lily turns to look at me, not sitting up from her position.

“Okay.”

“What would you think about Emmy being your mommy?”

Lily beams and her blue eyes sparkle.

“I think that’s the bestest idea ever!” she exclaims, hugging my neck tightly.

I laugh and pull her against me.

“I want to ask Emmy to marry me, but I also want to ask her to be your mommy. What would you think if she adopted you, baby?”

“What’s adopted?”

“It means that your mommy and daddy will be together. You’ll have a mommy for the rest of your life. What do you think?”

Sitting up in the truck, clutching her bunny, Lily smiles, and then her small face falls as she begins to cry loud, heart-shattering sobs.

Sitting up, I pull her onto my lap and cradle her to me.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart? I thought you wanted a mommy?”

Sniffling, Lily raises her head, hair stuck to her wet cheeks.

“Thank you, Daddy. That’s all I want.”

“I love you, baby. You’re the most important person in my life, and I’m so blessed every day that I get to be your daddy. You know that, Lily bug?”

Hugging me tight, she buries her face in my neck and sighs.

“I love you, Daddy.”

Rocking her back and forth, I run a hand through her tangled hair, thanking God for making me the happiest man on earth. I haven’t a clue how I got this lucky, but I did, and I’ll be forever grateful.