Cole laughed quietly and smiled. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know any other way. There’s just this part of me that will always want to find justice.”
She turned her hand and tenderly brushed the side of his face with the backs of her fingers. “I know. That’s part of what I’ve always loved about you. Just like my daddy.”
“I wish I could’ve known him.”
Dani choked back the weight of Cole’s statement. “He would’ve loved you. I think the boys got that same justice-seeking bug. You already saw how riled up they get if one of them gets more ice cream than the other.”
“Ice cream is serious stuff.” His head moved slow as molasses as he nodded, like it was all sinking in. “Wow. Is this real? Am I really a daddy?”
She clapped him on the thigh. “It’s really real. And I think it’s time that we tell them. If you’re ready.”
“I think we both know I’m done with waiting.”
If only Cole knew what a big leap that was for Dani. She’d spent the years trying to teach the boys that it didn’t matter who their daddy was, that they had her and that was all that was important. But the reality was it did matter—Cole was a good man and he wanted a relationship with his boys. He wanted to be a part of their lives, she wanted the same, and she already knew they would welcome him.
Sam and the boys were heading up from the stables, Colin and Cameron running so fast that they were kicking up dirt. They ran Dani ragged some days. Now they could start spending time with their father, and hopefully he could help to wear them out a little bit. Sam waved at Dani and Cole, then headed off behind the house. He must have sensed that they would need their time together.
As the boys ran up the stairs, they were a flurry of news and announcements.
“We gave the foal a name,” Cameron said.
“What did you decide on?”
“Dottie. After Great-Aunt Dot,” Colin explained, as if the name required clarification.
Dani smiled wide. They were so impossibly sweet. “I think that sounds like a wonderful name.”
“Is that okay with you, Mr. Cole?” Cameron asked.
“Absolutely. I approve.”
“Oh, good.” Colin seemed legitimately worried.
“There’s only one thing,” Cole added. “I’d like it if you boys started calling me something other than Mr. Cole.”
Dani’s gaze connected with Cole’s, and she knew the moment had arrived. She pulled both boys close. “I have something important to tell you. Do you remember when we talked about how one day you might meet your father?”
Colin was busy putting two and two together, but Cameron seemed to catch on right away. His mouth flew open and he looked back and forth between Cole and Dani. “Is he?”
Dani nodded. “Yes, honey. Mr. Sullivan and I were in love a long time ago. And that’s when you two came along. Mr. Sullivan is your daddy.”
“You are?” Colin, ever the skeptic, stepped up to Cole and placed his hands on his knee, scrutinizing his face. “Are you spoofing us?”
“I would never spoof you about something so important. You boys have the same freckles as Mr. Sullivan and everything. You don’t get those from me,” Dani said.
“Actually,” Cole interjected, “I have some photos inside the house of me as a little boy. Maybe we can get a drink of water and take a look at those.”
“I think that sounds like a wonderful idea,” Dani said, amazed how the boys were taking this all in stride, although she probably shouldn’t be surprised. They’d loved Cole from the moment they met him, and they were both so sweet natured and accepting, it only made sense that this news would be well received.
That said, she knew they’d have hurdles to jump at some point. Undoubtedly, both boys would have questions about the future, about what would happen and how this all might shake out. She had to prepare for that, which meant another big discussion with Cole.
She followed Cole and the boys inside, and they settled in the living room with a photo album and ice water, while Dani decided to make a pitcher of lemonade. When she returned to the living room, the vision took her breath away—Cole sitting on that big leather sofa of his, Colin on one side and Cameron on the other. The boys were still so small, their feet hardly reached the edge of those deep seat cushions. They were looking through a photo album.
“Now, this is me and Sam at one of our first state fairs, showing goats. I’m guessing I was eight and he was five,” Cole said.
“Did you win?” Colin asked.
Cole shook his head. “Nope. Competition was steep. But we learned a lot. I guess that’s the most important part.”
