"I've got magical powers."
"Really?" Violet asked, her eyes going wide.
I lifted my index finger to my lips. "Shhh, let's keep it our little secret, okay?"
"Okay," she giggled. "But Mommy heard too, so she has to be in the pact."
I turned my head and stared at Zoey, smiling; she looked so beautiful with the sun’s rays coming through the window and landing on her face. "Mommy will always be in on our secrets."
Violet grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the table. "We're gonna eat breakfast. Mommy makes pancakes. She makes the best pancakes."
"I know she does," I said.
"You do?" she asked, her tiny head moving back and forth from Zoey to me. "How'd you know that?"
"Violet, baby…" Zoey sat down at the table, one hand taking Violet’s and the other taking mine. "River and I've known each other for a long time, way before you were born."
"He's my dad, isn't he?" Violet asked, shocking both of us. For a little kid, she was right on the money. It felt like she was always watching everything, taking it all in.
"Yes, sweetie, I am."
"Where have you been?" she asked. It was a simple question, but it packed a heavy punch.
I placed my hand, palm up, on the table, and she put her small one in mine. I couldn't help thinking how small it was and how badly I wanted to make sure how nothing in life ever hurt her.
I looked up and stared right into her bright blue eyes. "I was fighting some bad guys. That's all done now, and I'm home to stay."
"Does that mean we’re gonna live together? Like a real family?"
"Yes," Zoey said, squeezing my hand.
"Really?" Violet squealed, jumping out of her chair and throwing her arms around me. I held her to me, closing my eyes, and finally, I felt at peace. I had found my purpose in this little girl and the woman I loved more than my own life. I had my family, and I had my heart.
"Can I call you daddy?" she whispered in my ear.
"Yes," I said, squeezing her.
"I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too, baby."
Epilogue
TEN YEARS LATER
ZOEY
"Babe, have you seen my watch?" River asked, rushing down the stairs in a three-piece suit, looking fine as hell.
"Here it is," I said, tossing it to him.
He walked over and kissed me as he put the watch on his wrist. I smiled, looking at the Disney princesses layered on a pink background. Violet had given it to him as a wedding present when she was five. She’d told him he didn't have to wear it, but he'd smiled, put it on, and said it would be the only watch he'd ever use. He’d kept his promise; every day, he'd go to work in an expensive suit and a ten-dollar pink Disney princess watch on his wrist.
"You ever gonna stop wearing that thing
River wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me to him. "No, my baby girl gave it to me. I want to be buried in it."
"You're a perfect dad, you know that?"
"Naw, it's easy to be a good dad with a kid like ours. Speaking of kids…" He bent down and kissed my massive belly. "Daddy can't wait to meet you, little man."
"Any day now."
River and I had known we wanted more children. We’d tried to get pregnant the natural way and when that didn’t work we’d tried IVF multiple times, but it just didn't happen. We'd given up and were happy with our little family until a miracle happened and I got pregnant. I was overjoyed about it, but River, he was over the moon. I think he felt terrible that he'd missed the early years with Violet, and this little one would be his chance to experience all those firsts.
His lips covered mine in a kiss that was branding. A kiss that was filled with burning possession. River and I were meant to be with each other. It was clear from the moment we met that we were something more than a teenage fantasy. We belonged together, and he had spent the last ten years showing me and our daughter just how much his whole life revolved around us. I knew my handsome, kind, strong man would sacrifice anything for our little family and it made me love him more for it.
When we pulled away, my fingers brushed along my lips. “Still kiss as well as you did when we frist met.”
“You still make me feel the same way.”
River took my face in his hands, making sure I couldn’t look away from him and whispered, “I love you.”
THE END