Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Merrick: I’m his twin and errand boy today. I should get first dibs on cake and steak.
Orrin: We love you, brother.
I smile down at my phone. I know what they’re doing. They think I’m nervous, and they’re trying to help. I’m not nervous. I’m excited, eager, and so damn thankful for my girls, but no nerves.
Me: I’m good, fellas. I’m ready to make them mine in all the ways. I appreciate the effort.
My phone pings eight times, and I don’t have to look to see what each message says. I already know.
Love harder.
“All right,” Merrick says, coming into the room like a banshee. “Stella cried and told me it’s your fault if she’s late getting to the altar because she has to fix her makeup. Baby Ada smiled and said ‘pretty.’ I helped her put it on, even though Stella said she was too little.”
“And you’re going to show me the picture you took of my daughter, right? I know you won’t show me Stella.”
“Oh, I took pictures of both, but yeah, you only get to see Ada.” He pulls out his phone and taps at the screen. “Look at her.” He turns his phone so that I can see.
I stare at my little girl. She’s in a white dress with a pink bow around her waist and matching pink shoes. Around her neck is the necklace I bought her to match her mom’s. They’re cheap, nothing over-the-top expensive. I knew Stella would have a fit if I spent too much on something Ada could break or lose. It’s a small K charm. Luckily, she’s not one of those kids who puts everything in her mouth. She will bring you every tiny piece of anything she finds. Rocks, lint, crumbs, you name it. They don’t go in her mouth, but she brings them to you.
Stella’s is made of diamonds to match the key I gave her at Christmas. I know my wife will get the meaning. She has my heart, my forever, and now, my last name. They both do.
“Oh, I took a video.” Merrick pulls his phone back and taps the screen before turning it back to me. “Say hi to Daddy.” His voice fills the room.
“Daddy, pwetty.” Ada points at her necklace.
I’m man enough to admit I have to swallow back my emotions. I couldn’t love that little girl more if it were my blood flowing through her veins.
“Let me see,” Dad says. Merrick shows him the picture and replays the video.
“You can see Stella. She’s hot.”
“Mer,” I warn him. He chuckles and ignores me.
“You have a beautiful family, Maverick.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I gave her the letter, but I didn’t stick around for her to read it. She did give me this to give you though.” He hands me an envelope.
“Do you want us to step out?” Dad asks.
“No. It’s fine.” I walk to the couch in the room and sit down. Carefully, I open the envelope and pull out the papers. I read them three times to make sure I’m seeing them correctly.
“Mav?” Merrick asks. I feel his hand on my shoulder. It’s that twin thing again. “Tell me.”
I can’t speak. I can’t form the words of what the papers in my hands mean to me. Instead, I shake my head and hand him the papers.
“Damn,” Merrick mutters as he reads them over. He clears his throat, but I can still hear the emotion when he says. “She’s living by that family motto already.”
“What is it?” Dad asks.
I swallow hard. I’m on the verge of letting tears fall. I feel so many emotions. Happiness, gratefulness, elation, and I don’t know how to process each one.
Clearing my throat, I answer him, “Adoption papers.” I look up and see my dad with tears in his eyes. “She’s giving me my little girl.”
I stand as my dad heads my way, and he wraps me up in a tight hug. We don’t say a word as I hold on to the man who taught me how to love. He taught all of us.
“Make room,” Merrick says.
The next thing I know, his arms are around both of us, and we’re all laughing, happiness overflowing in our hearts.
I’m getting married to the love of my life.
I’m Ada’s dad in all the ways that matter.
Today is officially the best day of my life.
I’m standing at the altar with all my brothers and Deacon. I know it’s a lot, but I wanted them all up here with me. Besides, I made a promise to all of them that when I got married, I’d do it up big. I don’t know what’s bigger than all my brothers and Deacon standing up with me.
That made us short a person on Stella’s side, so Piper offered to stand in. Stella was ecstatic. Piper is Palmer and Deacon’s sister. We don’t see much of her anymore. She’s been busy with life and her daughter. Her husband was transferred to the Atlanta Fire Department. It’s only an hour's drive, but it’s a lot when you have kids, activities, jobs, and everything else that comes with adulting.