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As we were walking to the door, I couldn’t help but add, “By the way, little cousin, you do have a serious set of fucking balls on you.”
She had reached the door and glanced over her shoulder at me. “And that’s why I’m going to be the highest earner at your firm.”
“Is that so?”
“Really?” She laughed. “You’re doubting me? After I just pulled off the biggest dating scandal the Daltons have ever seen?” She patted my shoulder as she slid the door open. “Come on. Let’s go spoil your daughter some more.”
As I walked inside, Sydney got up from the floor and joined me.
“Is everything all right?” she asked. “Things looked like they were getting a little heated out there.”
I briefly put my hand on her back, just long enough that she could feel my fingers. “It’s all good.”
“Daddy!” Everly screamed, rushing over and clinging to my leg. “Daddy, Daddy! Uncle D says it’s present time. I wanna open presents!”
“And she’s opening mine first,” Dominick said from the couch.
I chuckled, rubbing the back of my little girl’s head. “Tell Uncle D you’re opening mine first. He’s going to have to wait.” I lifted her into my arms and carried her over to the couch, setting her on the large ottoman. “Stay right there,” I told her.
I went into the area of the living room where all the presents had been placed, finding mine among the massive stack. I grabbed the small bag and handed it to her.
By the time I sat, everyone had found a place on the couch, Sydney directly next to me.
“Open it,” I said to Everly, who normally needed no prompting, but I was sure the small bag was puzzling since my gifts typically came in larger packaging.
She pulled out the small bundle and tore off the tissue paper, holding the book in her hands.
“Do you know what it is?” I asked.
The book was made entirely of photos.
She opened to the first page, her curls bouncing as she wiggled on the cushion. “Photos! From your trip!”
“That’s right.” I looked at Sydney, smiling.
The gift had been my idea, but the way I was presenting it had been Sydney’s. She’d also helped put the booklet together, downloading each of the pictures I had sent during my time on the road and arranging them in order.
“Do you know why I’m giving this to you?” I asked Everly.
She shook her head.
“Because we’re going to make our own book, just like this one.” I moved to the end of the couch to get closer to her and pointed at the shot of the Las Vegas Strip, the picture she had just arrived at. “We’re going to fly there, and you’re going to see all the lights and have all the adventures, just like you asked for.”
Her mouth opened so wide. “We are?”
“How nice,” my mother said. “Everly, your daddy got you such a wonderful gift.”
“And we spoil her,” Dominick huffed.
I ignored my brother, flipping back a few pages to show her the mountain shots. “And we’re also going there, to Colorado, so you can see those mountains and ride some horses.”
“I am?”
“You’re going to love the horses,” my father said to her.
I lifted her off the ottoman and set her on my lap. “We’re leaving in this many days.” I held two hands in the air, spreading my fingers wide—the same way she had all morning.
Her face lit up even more. “Yay!”
Sydney reached for Everly’s hand, swinging it so gently. “What do you say, Miss Everly?”
“Thank you, Daddy.” She threw her tiny arms around my neck and squeezed me.
“You’re welcome, baby.” I rubbed circles across her back. “Can you guess who’s coming with us?”
She leaned away, looking at my face. A second passed, and she shrugged.
“I am, sweetheart,” Sydney said.
“Wahoo! I wanna leave now!” She jumped off my lap and landed on Sydney’s, giving her a hug. When she pulled away, she asked, “Did you get me a present?”
Sydney laughed. “I made you a present. Would you like to see it?”
“Yes!”
She carried Everly off the couch and set her down in the kitchen, leading her into the pantry.
I followed behind, wanting to see Everly’s face when Sydney showed her the surprise.
The cake was sitting on a table that Craig had set up, so no one would see the dessert until it was time for Everly to blow out her candles.
But Everly rushed right up to it, her eyes so wide, her mouth open. “My animals!” she screeched. “All of them!”
