Lucas
(Three Years Later)
"Oh no, you don't." I scoop Barrett into my arms just before he tumbles off the edge of the bed. The sounds of his giggles melt my heart, especially when Jessalyn joins in with a hardy laugh of her own. Her chubby little hands clapping with glee at her brother's antics. "You two are trouble, you know that?" I tease, tickling their soft little necks and joining in their laughter.
Two years and three months after Wyatt was born, our family grew again—this time by two. A boy, Thomas David Barrett Holt, named after my father and Uncle David, and his twin sister, Jessalyn Rose Holt, named after my mother. That was nine months ago, and since then, our lives have shifted from organized chaos to all-out mayhem. But I wouldn't trade a single second of it for the world. Every messy, noisy, joy-filled moment is exactly what I dreamed of, and that I didn't think I'd ever have it makes me treasure it that much more.
"Daaaad..." Alyssa barrels into the room with all the flair of a dramatic entrance, Nero faithfully at her heels. She stops abruptly, crossing her arms and plopping onto the bed beside her baby sister, her face set in a pout that tells me she's gearing up to express some big feelings.
"What's the matter, sweetheart?" I ask, hoisting Barrett onto my hip and glancing between her and the door, already trying to guess who—or what—is behind the mini storm brewing inside her.
Her lower lip juts out as she groans. "Why did you guys have to invite him?"
"Lyssie..." I sigh, scooping both twins off the bed and gently setting them down in the small, gated play area tucked into the corner of our bedroom.
After easily hopping the gate, Nero pads over to them, sniffing each baby like he's confirming all is well, before flopping down next to them like the loyal guardian he's become. Barrett giggles and crawls toward Nero, tugging at his ear, which earns a resigned huff from the dog as Jessalyn claps her hands in delight. Their laughter lightens the mood for the briefest moment, but that all changes as my focus returns to my nine-year-old daughter.
Taking a seat next to her on the bed, I soften my voice, recalling the advice her therapist gave us about how to approach these conversations. "Lyssie girl, he's your dad," I start, brushing a strand of her hair out of her face. "He misses you and wants to get to know you."
Her face hardens, but her voice wavers as she mutters, "I don't like him." The words come out sharp, but the truth of how she feels is written in the sadness behind her eyes. Creed left when Mallory was just a baby, so, like Wyatt, she doesn't carry any memories of him. But Alyssa? She doesn't just remember him; she also remembers the hurt his absence inflicted on her little heart.
"I know." I place my hand on her back to reassure her. "But if you give him a chance, you might change your mind. I know I did."
Her eyes snap to mine, surprised, and I offer her a small smile. "When I first met him, I was angry—angry about how he treated you, Mallory, and your mom. I didn't think I'd ever get past that. But Lyssie..." I pause, letting the weight of my words settle before continuing. "The more I got to know him, the more I realized he left for the right reasons. It wasn't to hurt you or your mom. It was to help others."
Her brow furrows, her little fists clenching in her lap, but I press on in a gentle tone. "Your dad is one of the good guys, Lyssie. Like me and your uncles at Offset Tactical, he helps people. When he left, it was to stop the same kind of bad people who hurt you and your mom. He saved lives and made sure those people couldn't ever hurt anyone else again. And yeah, I get that you're mad he left. You have every right to be. But maybe... just maybe, give him a chance to make it up to you. I mean, what do you have to lose?"
Like he's sensing the tension, Nero hops back over the gate with effortless grace, padding to Alyssa's side. He nudges his big head onto her lap, his soulful eyes locked on her as if he understands every ounce of her turmoil. Alyssa's hand instinctively goes to his fur, her fingers weaving through the soft, familiar comfort. For a second, it looks like she might cry, but instead, she takes a deep, steadying breath. Then she lifts her chin, her gaze meeting mine with a stubborn determination that already hints at the incredible woman she'll one day become.
"I don't know if I can forgive him."
"And that's okay," I reassure her. "Forgiveness doesn't have to happen all at once. Sometimes, it takes time. But giving him a chance? That's the first step. And your mom and I will be right here with you every step of the way."
She nods slowly, resting her head on my shoulder as Nero's tail thumps softly against the floor.
"What if he leaves again?" Her voice quivers as she looks up at me, the vulnerability breaking through the steel in her gaze. She's trying so hard to be strong, but I see her fear, the certainty in her mind that it's only a matter of time before Creed disappears again.
"Then your mom and I will be here for you. Always. So will your aunts, uncles, and everyone who loves you. But Lyssie, I've spoken to him about that very thing. I've asked him the same question. And you know what he said? He told me he wants to be a part of your life. He doesn't plan to leave again, and I believe him."
She hesitates, her little brows knitting together as she processes my words. Finally, she whispers, "But I don't need him anymore. You're my dad now, right?" She leans into me, her head resting against my arm, and my heart constricts.
Her words strike deep, and suddenly, I'm drowning in wave after wave of gratitude and love, so much so that it begins to burn behind my eyes. Tipping my head just slightly, I rest it against hers, taking a moment to savor the connection.
"I love you, Lyssie. And I love being your dad. Meeting you and your sister was one of the best things that's ever happened to me. But sweetheart," I pull back, tilting her chin up so she can see my face. "Loving Creed and letting him be your dad won't change how I feel about you. It won't change us because you are my daughter. You will always be my daughter."
Her lips tremble, and I see the warring emotions in her eyes—the loyalty she feels toward me and the uncertainty about Creed. I hold her gaze, my voice steady as I continue. "Just like you'll always be his daughter, too. You don't have to choose between us, sweetheart. You're deserving enough to have us both. Two dads who love you and would go to the ends of the earth to care for you and make you happy."
Like he's feeling left out, Nero nudges her with his snout. Alyssa looks down at him, her small hand stroking between his ears. When his tail thumps loudly against the ground, the corner of her mouth quirks up in the faintest smile.
Encouraged, I smile too. "Think about it, Lyssie. How great would that be? Two dads who think you're the most amazing girl in the world. Double the love, double the support, and double the amazing dad jokes."
She giggles at that, her tension easing slightly as she leans against me. "You already tell too many dad jokes."
I chuckle, pressing a kiss to her head. "That's my job, sweetheart."
She lets out a sigh, and though it's still heavier than I'd like, there's something softer in it this time. With a small nod, she stands from the bed, her movements slow and her shoulders still slumped as she heads toward the door. Nero, ever watchful, pads after her.
"Hey, Lyssie." My voice stops her in her tracks, and I wait until she glances back at me. "Whatever you decide, remember—your mom and I will always be here for you. Always."
My words hang in the air between us as she just stares. But then, to my relief, I catch the faintest flicker of understanding in her gaze. The sadness behind her eyes doesn't vanish entirely, but it softens like a shadow retreating with the promise of dawn. She gives me a small, tentative smile before continuing out of the room, Nero trailing like a loyal sentry at her side.
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