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CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

FESTIVITIES

PENN

It’s been a day of Christmas decorating at the house—something I’ve never done much of—and just like with everything else, Addy’s made it so fun.

We’ve been extremely productive.

Inside, the house is stunning. Classy and completely enchanting.

Outside, our house looks like Buddy the Elf came and worked his magic.

It’s me. I’m Buddy.

And I must say, I’m feeling pre-tty damn good about myself.

This is a learning curve for me, but once I knew Addy and the kids wanted lights, I went all in. I don’t even know how many lights I’ve strung around the house and trees. So, so many.

And then there are the inflatables.

There’s a Santa (15 ft) sitting with his feet dangling from the roof.

The sleigh and reindeer (12 ft) are behind him.

A Snowman (40 ft) stands on the lawn overseeing the land.

Then there’s Elsa (15 ft), Mrs. Claus (26 ft), three gingerbread men (12 ft)…

and my favorite, the flamingo with a Christmas lei around her neck (40 ft) that I put out by the pool.

Not to mention the inflatable candy cane arches everywhere (20 ft each).

And then…the masterpiece is the Christmas Ferris Wheel. It’s not an inflatable, it’s wooden and so stinking cute. Addy and the kids gasp when they see it and then look on in shock as I light everything up.

“What have you done?” Addy asks, eyes wide.

“Pretty damn great, right?” I ask.

“Pretty damn something !” she says, laughing.

“I love it, Daddy,” Winnie gasps dreamily.

Sam fist-bumps me. “This is sick,” he says, laughing.

It’s such a hit, no one wants to leave the house, but we have to rush off for Winnie’s performance in the holiday dance show.

We wind up the mountain, excitement and nerves palpable in the car. When we arrive at the Silver Hills Community Theatre, it feels like there are a thousand people in the parking lot, even though I know it barely seats three hundred. And we’re early.

We walk inside, Addy and Winnie holding hands next to me, and Sam on my other side.

Holiday garlands and lights cover every surface—although I think it could stand another couple hundred strands of lights—and the chatter of parents and kids running around in costumes rivals the football stadium.

My palms are sweating, which is just silly.

Winnie looks adorable in her red tutu and sparkly headband. Her curls are going every direction and her green eyes are bright. She stops suddenly, and we all stop, looking to see if she’s okay.

She looks up at us nervously, her free hand twisting around her tutu. I start to lean down to her level to say something encouraging, but Sam beats me to it.

“You’ve got this,” he says, his voice firm.

She looks at him, uncertain. “What if I forget all my moves?”

“Never gonna happen. You’ve got them down ,” I insist.

“And so what if you forget something?” Sam adds. “I bet no one would be able to tell anyway.”

Her lip trembles. “I’m nervous.”

“Think about all the stuff you’ve done, Win,” Sam says, taking her hand. “You’ve survived mean foster parents. Hateful kids. Never having enough food. And you still laughed and played through all that.” He leans in. “And your dancing kicks ass .”

Her eyes get huge and she giggles, clamping her hand over her mouth. She looks around to see if that’s gonna get him in trouble, but we’re enjoying this too much for that to happen.

“You think so?” she whispers finally.

“I know so. You are powerful . You’re the toughest girl in the whole wide world, and you’re gonna be the cutest, best dancer out there tonight,” he tells her.

She gulps. “I promise I won’t tell Cassidy and Audrey you said that,” she says, then nods briskly. “Okay. Okay, I’m ready.” She throws her arms around Sam’s neck and when she backs away, they high-five hard enough for it to echo.

“Totally got this.” Sam grins.

She takes a deep breath and stands taller.

I hear Addy sniffling beside me and she rolls her eyes when I look. “Why are they always making me emotional?”

“Because they’re the best little humans…and we are totally soft.” I put my arm around her and my hand on Winnie’s shoulder. “And I can’t wait to see you shine up there, sweet girl.” I lean down and kiss her cheek. “Love you.”

“Love you, Daddy,” she says.

I don’t think my heart will ever not drop when she says that.

She looks at Sam. “Love you, Sam.”

And then she bounces off with Addy backstage, where they’re supposed to be gathering, while Sam and I find our seats.

The first half of the show starts out with the full range of ages—toddlers to teens—and we’re laughing our asses off one second and amazed by the talent in the next.

The littlest ones are dressed like snowflakes and they scatter in different directions, never quite landing where they’re supposed to.

A boy dressed as a reindeer hops sideways…

instead of staying in line with everyone else, and crashes into an elf.

The elf then bursts into tears and looks into the audience for his mom.

We lose it when one of the little girls in Winnie’s class does an inappropriate hip thrust during “Jingle Bell Rock.”

And then, it’s time for the father-daughter dance.

The dads file onto the stage and I see our friends out in the audience.

I remember how cute it was when Bowie and Rhodes stepped in and danced with Cassidy and Audrey after Henley’s injury.

Henley’s up here now with Cassidy and Audrey flanking him. He winks at me when our eyes meet.

I can’t believe I’m here now with a little girl that I want to be my daughter more than anything.

I glance down at Winnie, my hand engulfing her tiny one, and her expression is serene and confident as she smiles up at me. All earlier nerves are gone.

“You ready?” I ask.

“Yes,” she says emphatically.

We go full-on cheese with our smiles at each other.

“Okay, little miss. Let’s show them how it’s done.”

After the grand finale, I give her a huge bouquet that I’d kept hidden from The Enchanted Florist, and it’s like I’ve given her a pony or something. She’s thrilled .

“Flowers?” she gasps. “For me ? I’ve never ever had flowers. Oh, I love them so, so much!”

If I could give her the whole world, I would.

Sam plucks one that is dangling loosely and breaks the stem. Winnie beams when he tucks it behind her ear. She shifts on her feet, waiting for our approval.

“Perfect,” Addy says.

“You really were the best one out there,” I whisper so I don’t hurt any other little girls nearby.

We pose for pictures with our friends, cracking up at how we’ve multiplied over the last couple of years.

“At the rate we’re all going, I think we can fill up this theatre on our own next year,” Rhodes teases.

“You trying to tell us something?” Bowie asks.

“Nah, I’m letting you be the father of many nations,” Rhodes says, shaking Bowie by the shoulder.

Bowie just laughs, completely unperturbed. Honestly, he’s such a good dad, I can imagine him with five kids and still pulling off that stud hair like it’s nothing.

We all end up at Serendipity, and Greer and Wyndham go on about how cute Winnie looks in her dance outfit.

“Thank you,” Winnie says, twirling. “I think I’m getting a strawberry shake,” she declares.

“You always get a strawberry shake,” Sam says.

“That’s because it’s my favorite,” she says, her nose scrunching up. But then she sees a banana split at the next table and she hesitates. Her mouth drops a little. “Or maybe that,” she says.

We all laugh and she looks around like what?

When Greer comes out with the massive thing, sliding it in front of Winnie’s awed face, she stares at it. “It’s so big,” she whispers.

“You think you can handle it?” I ask.

Her chin lifts. “I’m very powerful ,” she says.

Sam looks at me, nodding proudly. “Told you.”

We watch as she digs in, taking a huge bite of whipped cream and chocolate and banana all at once. Her whole face lights up.

“ Oh …I was made for this,” she breathes.