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“Like you?” Izzy said with a smile. “Yes, I do, Holly. I don’t know why you think I don’t like you, but I promise you I do.”
“It’s the resting bitch face,” LJ said, and he received another middle finger from Izzy. “Or it could be that,” he said as he laughed.
“You’re family. There is supposed to be a Joy in this world who was born on December twenty-fourth. Just like Jig is supposed to have an eleven-year-old daughter named Mary. All of us in this room here have seen how evil the world can be. And how often there is suffering and heartache. We’re just trying to put a little joy back in the world.” She extended a hand to Jig, who captured it with his then brought it to his lips for a lingering kiss.
Holly’s insides had never felt so warm and gooey. For the first time in a long time, Holly truly knew she was loved. Not in the romantic way LJ showed her every day but cherished by her family. Sure, none of them were blood, but she’d learned over the past few months that blood meant nothing more than DNA and similar traits. It didn’t guarantee loyalty, respect, or compassion. Her chosen family had given her all that and more.
They gave her Joy.
“I don’t know what to say. This is the most incredible gift anyone has ever given me.”
LJ’s arms tightened, keeping her close and supported. With a slight tremor in her arms, she crossed them over LJ’s.
“Thank you,” she whispered. The words seemed so inadequate an expression of the wonder and appreciation she felt for what they had given her. But thank you was all she could muster without bawling like a baby. As it was, she had to blink about a million times to keep the tears at bay. Though they were tears of happiness, Holly refused to let them fall. Nothing that could be misconstrued as sadness would be allowed in that room today.
“There isn’t anything to thank us for,” Jig said as he held out his arms for the baby.
Izzy immediately passed Joy to her father. Holly’s heart nearly stopped at the look of bliss that passed over the stern man’s face.
Apparently, all it took to turn big tough bikers to mush was a tiny baby girl.
“Well,” Holly said, suddenly experiencing the urge to lighten the heavy mood. “At the very least, you guys get cookies and brownies for life.”
“And that’s why we really did it,” Izzy said as she held her hand up for a high-five from Jig. “Score, baby!”
“Well, now that we’re out of the serious part of today’s program, can we give them their gift, sugar?” LJ asked as he unwound his arms from her.
“Oh, right! Sorry, I forgot.” Holly snatched the wrapped gift off the bedside table where LJ had set it before embracing her. “Here you go.” She handed it over to Izzy.
“I think I’m supposed to say something like, ‘you didn’t have to do that,’ but I’m kinda loving all the gifts you guys have been bringing by today.”
“Well this one is the shit,” LJ said.
“Oh, great, now the pressure is on,” Holly said as she playfully pinched his nonexistent stomach flab.
Silence fell while Izzy went to work, tearing the elephant wrapping paper off the gift. Once free of the crinkled paper, she lifted the lid off the box, then began laughing. “Oh, my God,” she said, gasping for breath. “Jig, look at this. You guys win best present, hands down.”
“Let me see, babe,” Jig said.
Izzy lifted the purple onesie from the box, holding it up so Jig could read the text. Printed across the tiny garment in bright white letters was the word “Fighter,” along with a picture of a baby in a fighting stance. An arc above the image read, “Crib today,” and an arc below read “Cage tomorrow.”
Holly beamed as her gift was enjoyed. She’d searched for a while until she found something Izzy would truly enjoy. And for some crazy reason, the woman loved to beat on other people.
“Shit, you guys nailed that gift.” Jig held out his fist and accepted a bump from both Holly and LJ.
They stayed for another fifteen minutes or so, oohing and aahing over Joy. When she woke up with a hungry wail, it was time to jet. Holly loved Izzy and all but didn’t feel the need to stick around and watch her feed the baby.
The moment they stepped outside the hospital, Holly shivered. LJ pulled her close, sharing his ever-present heat. “Can you believe that?” she asked, staring up at his handsome face.
“I think it’s perfect.”
Perfect. Yes, that’s exactly what it was. The most amazing birthday and Christmas present imaginable. Holly vowed at that moment to be the best aunt that child could ever have.
When they reached LJ’s truck, he backed her against it and leaned down to steal a kiss. “You ready to go home and unwrap your first birthday present, sugar?”
