Chapter 19

NINETEEN

Maverick

It’s been a little over two months since the day I realized that Stella and Ada were my future. Ten weeks of coming home to them after a long day, and now that I’m laid off, I spend all day with my daughter, and greet my wife when she gets home from work.

I love every fucking minute of it.

There is only one thing I would change, and that’s their last names. I want to adopt Ada. I want her to be mine, not only in my heart but in the eyes of the law. I want them both tied to me in all ways possible.

They are my family.

“I think that’s it,” Stella says. She’s been digging presents for the nieces and nephews out from under our Christmas tree for the last half hour. “There are still a lot of presents under that tree.” She gives me a pointed look.

“What? She doesn’t know about S-a-n-t-a yet.” I spell out the name, making Stella laugh.

“Maverick. Our house is too small for all of this. Her room is already bursting at the seams.”

“Well, it’s a good thing we’re buying a bigger place.” We found a house we both fell in love with. It’s just down the road from Orrin and Jade, which will be nice to be so close to family. What my future bride doesn’t know is that I signed the papers last week, and got the keys. The owners gave us immediate occupancy. It took some effort and a lot of help from my brothers, but I’m about to pull off some major surprises for my girls.

“That’s not the point, Kincaid.” She sighs heavily.

“Daddy’s gotta spoil his little girl. It’s in the dad contract.”

“What dad contract?”

“Oh, it’s top-secret stuff. Only dads know about it.”

“Then why are you telling me about it?” She’s barely containing her laughter.

“Because I love you, and I tell you everything.” I lean down and press my lips to hers. “I’ll get these loaded in the van.”

“I never thought I’d see the day when Maverick Kincaid drove a minivan.”

“I’m a family man. Ain’t no shame in my game, Stel. I make that minivan look damn good.”

She grins and shakes her head.

Last month, I finally convinced her it was time for a new car. We both want more kids, and hers wasn’t going to last much longer. I did the best that I could, having my brother make it as safe as possible, but she was long overdue. I tried to get her to buy an SUV, but she said that a minivan made more sense with all the kids in the family, and the ones we want to have.

I relented when we found the Honda Odyssey. This thing is sweet. A good sound system, all-wheel drive, automatic doors, and even a vacuum for messes the kids make. I was sold, and now, here I am, a minivan dad and living my best life.

Hitting the automatic back gate button on the key fob, I start loading the presents. I remember the days when it was just Blakely. Our family is rapidly growing, and I love it. I know my parents are thrilled as well. They got Ada this year, and Alyssa and Jordyn are both expecting. I’m sure they won’t be the only ones. It seems like someone in the family is always pregnant these days.

It takes me two more trips to get all of the gifts loaded. “The car’s warm,” I tell Stella.

“Okay. Let me wrangle Ada into her coat, and we’ll head out.”

“I’ll get her. Just grab the diaper bag, and I’ll meet you out there.”

“Okay.” She picks up the diaper bag and stops. I know she’s mentally going through her checklist to make sure she’s remembered to pack extra everything. Stella is always prepared. “The fudge.”

“Already in the van. I put it on the floorboard of the back seat.”

“Thanks, babe.” She tilts her head up for a kiss, and I oblige her. There will never be a time when I will refuse to kiss this woman. I don’t care where we are or who is around to witness.

Once she’s bundled up and out the door, I scoop Ada up in my arms, and we race down the hall to her room. I quickly change her into the outfit I hid in her closet. I pat my pocket, making sure I have what I need, before making funny faces at her while getting her into her coat. I rush to the door, making sure it’s locked before acting like nothing happened and loading her into her seat.

“Ready?” I ask Stella, sliding behind the wheel.

“Yeah.” Her eyes are sparkling with happiness. “I always wanted a big family Christmas.”

“You’re about to get that and more, angel.”

“I’m ready for all of it.”

If she only knew.

Walking up behind Stella, I wrap my arms around her waist, resting my chin on her shoulder.

“Today has been everything, Maverick.” She turns to glance at me. “I can’t believe my grandparents are here.”

“They’re family.”

“I love you.” Her voice cracks.

“I love you too.” It’s time. I wait for the nerves to take over, but nothing. My heart is not even racing. That’s because I know we’re solid. I know she’s going to love her gifts, and I know that this is the first of many Christmases we’re going to spend just like this. Who knows? Maybe next year, Ada will have a sibling to open presents with.

“I have some presents for you.”

“What? I thought we were going to open gifts at home tomorrow.”

“We are. But I have some with me today too.”

“Maverick! That’s not fair. I didn’t bring yours.”

“I know, angel. That’s how I wanted it to happen.” I pull away from her, taking her hand in mine and leading her toward the massive Christmas tree in the corner of the room. Jordyn and Ramsey went a little crazy with the décor, but even I can admit this place looks incredible. The kids were all wide-eyed at the massive tree.

“Open this one first.” I hand her a small box that I hid under the tree yesterday. I haven’t told anyone in my family about my plans for tonight. My brothers think all the action will come when we leave here tonight.

“Thank you.” She leans up and kisses my cheek.

“Babe, you haven’t even opened it yet. You might hate it.”

“I could never hate anything you give me.” She looks down at the box. “It’s too pretty to open.”

“Just open it, Stel.”

“Okay.” She’s smiling as she carefully removes the bow and then the paper. When she pulls the lid off the small box, her breath hitches. “Maverick, it’s beautiful.”

I take the box from her hands and pull the necklace out of the box. “This key represents the key to my heart. You are the sole owner.” I nod for her to turn around, and she does.

“Diamonds. Maverick, this is too much.”

“Nothing will ever be too much when it comes to showing you how much I love you.”

“Stop. You can’t make me cry with everyone here.” She turns her back to the crowd that’s still not paying us a bit of attention. Apparently, we’re old news now that we’re officially a couple.

“Okay. The next one.” I dig behind the tree and find the second box I hid. It’s similar in size to the first.

“The necklace is more than enough.”

“Not even close, angel. Open it.”

She nods and carefully unwraps this box the same way she did the first. When she opens it, she finds another key, this time a real one.

“What’s this?”

“That is the key to our new home. I closed on it last week. This key is the key to our forever.” I wrap my arms around her waist. “You have the key to my heart and the key to our forever. Basically, you have everything I am in the palm of your hands, well, minus our daughter, who’s busy playing with her cousins.”

Her eyes well with tears. “This is to the house?”

“Yeah. I wanted to surprise you.”

“Maverick.” She shakes her head, the emotion too much. “This is like a fairy tale.” She offers me a watery smile.

“Not quite, but it’s our story.”

“Thank you for my gifts. Thank you for choosing us.”

“You have one more gift.”

“Maverick, no. This is already way too much.”

“Technically, the house is for all three of us. That’s not much of a gift.”

“You gave me your forever, Maverick Kincaid. That’s a big damn deal.”

“Well, then, let me give you your last one.”

She shakes her head. The smile playing on her lips tells me she’s happy. That’s all I ever want, for my girls to be happy. “I know you well enough to know arguing won’t do me any good.”

“You’re learning, angel,” I tease. I drop a kiss on her forehead. “Stay here. I want our girl to be here for this one.” I turn and stalk toward Rushton, who’s holding Ada. “Hey, Bug.” Her face lights up.

“Dad, Dad,” she calls out as she reaches for me.

I take her from my brother and kiss her cheek. “It’s showtime,” I tell my daughter.

“Wait.” Rushton’s mouth drops open. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

“Yeah, I’m doing it here.”

Rushton grins. “I’ll spread the word.” He moves to start telling our family quietly what’s about to go down.

“Okay, Ada, this is what we talked about. I’m going to take your sweater off so that Mommy can read your shirt. We’re going to ask if she will marry me so that I can be your daddy in every way. You still on board, kid?” I ask her.

“Dad.” She gives me a sloppy kiss.

“That’s my girl.” I slow my steps, giving Rushton and the rest of the family time to clue in to what’s going on. I pause and pull off Ada’s sweater. I toss it over the back of the couch and grin when I read what it says. Thankfully, Stella is talking to Crosby. I know she beelined it over to Stella to offer a distraction. I love my family.

Work hard. Love harder. We’re damn good at both.

“There’s Mommy,” I tell Ada once we reach Stella.

“Hey, sweetie.” Ada reaches for her mom, and Stella takes her into her arms. “You having a good day?” she asks.

Ada pulls at her shirt.

I watch as Stella realizes our daughter is in nothing but a thin long-sleeve onesie and that the cute Christmas sweater she was wearing when we arrived is now nowhere to be found. I watch as her eyes read the words I have memorized.

Mommy, marry Daddy so we can all have the same last name. It’s the best I could come up with. I started to say something about adoption, but she’s mine no matter what the law says. I went with changing the last name instead, capturing both of my girls at once.

Pulling the ring out of my pocket, I fall to one knee. My heart is beating steadily, my hands aren’t sweating, and I couldn’t care less about the audience surrounding us.

All that matters at the moment are my girls.

“Maverick.” Stella’s voice breaks as she tears her eyes away from Ada’s shirt. Her gaze seeks me out, but all she finds is our family standing by waiting with bated breath for me to ask her.

“I love my girls,” I say, my voice loud and clear. I want the world to know what these two mean to me. “I want forever with both of you. You have the key to my heart. You have the key to our forever, and you are literally holding a piece of my heart in your hands at this very moment. Stella, will you do me the incredible honor of taking my last name? I want to be Ada’s daddy in the eyes of the law, and I want to be your husband. Will you marry me?”

She’s nodding before I’m finished with my speech that I’ve practiced over and over for the last several weeks. “Yes.” Tears rush down her cheeks.

“No cwy,” Ada says, her voice showing she’s starting to get upset.

I stand quickly, slide the ring on Stella’s finger, and kiss the hell out of her, wrapping my arms around both of them. The room erupts in cheers and Stella laughs.

“We did it, Bug. Mommy said yes.”’ I take our daughter from her mother and lift her into the air over my head. She giggles, and the sound fills my soul.

I get it now. I get how my brothers have altered their world for their wives and kids. This feeling, knowing they’re mine forever. It’s overwhelming and the most amazing rush I’ve ever felt in my life.

My family.

We’re swarmed by her grandparents and my side of the family for hugs, handshakes, and congratulations. My mom takes Ada and puts her sweater back on her. It’s perfectly warm in the room, but that’s what moms do. They worry and fuss. As a new dad, I’m learning that I do a lot of that too.

We spend another couple of hours with the family. When all the kids start to get tuckered out, we all start loading up to head home because Santa is coming tonight. Once we’re loaded up in the van, we head home, but not the home we left to come here. Our new home.

“Oh, are we driving by the new house?” Stella asks. She shimmies in her seat, and I can feel the excitement rolling off her in waves.

“Yeah.” It’s not a lie. We are driving by. We’re also stopping, but she’ll find that out soon enough.

Ten minutes later, we’re pulling into our new driveway. I hit the garage door opener on the van and pull inside.

“Are we going in?” Stella asks.

“Yeah, I thought we might as well check it out.”

“Eep!” She rushes to remove her seat belt and climbs out of the van.

I take my time and grab Ada, who fell asleep on the drive. “Go on in,” I tell Stella. I follow along behind her. When we get inside, I hit the lights, and she walks around the kitchen. I leave her there to move to the living room. I hit the switch for the gas fireplace, and the one next to it that turns on the outlet the Christmas tree is plugged into.

“What?” Stella turns to look where the lights are coming from.

The house is an open concept. The living room, kitchen, and dining room are one huge area, so there was definitely no hiding the lights. At least she hasn’t noticed the tree until now.

“Merry Christmas, angel.”

She peers around the room. She eyes the air mattress on the floor, covered with blankets. “When did you do this?”

“I had some help. My brothers helped me make it happen.”

“Maverick, this is perfect. Wait, are we staying here tonight?”

“Yeah, I thought we could have a little family campout by the light of the fire and the Christmas tree.”

“What about the gifts under the tree at home?” She worries her bottom lip.

As if the house is bugged, and he knows it’s his cue, headlights hit the living room window. “Like I said, I had some help.”

A few minutes later, Merrick knocks on the door. He’s got a huge box in his hand when he steps inside. “Ho, ho, ho,” he sings.

“Really? Merrick Kincaid, I love you.” Stella rushes to him and gives him a side hug before he has a chance to set the box of gifts down.

“Um, Stel, I think you have the wrong brother.” He grins down at her.

“Stop.” She laughs, swatting his arm playfully.

“That’s my twin, baby. In case you needed a reminder.” I lay Ada down on the air mattress. “I’m going to get another load.”

When I make it back inside the house, Merrick is unloading his box of gifts under the tree. I do the same, and my heart feels so full it might actually burst from the love overflowing inside me.

“Thank you, Mer.” I feel myself getting choked up just a little.

My twin pulls me into a hug. “Love you, Mav.” He steps away and taps his chest. He doesn’t need to say it for me to understand. He feels it. He can feel the love inside my heart for my family, not just Stella and Ada, but for my brothers, their wives, kids, and our parents. I’m so fucking lucky. It’s a scary twin thing that we don’t talk about much, but it’s there, and I can see it in his eyes. He feels it.

“Your day is coming, Mer.”

He nods. “I’m looking forward to it.” With that, he hugs Stella, bends and kisses Ada on the head as she’s sleeping, and leaves us to enjoy our first night and our first Christmas in our new home.