Page 106 of The Thief

We all sat down, me in the middle and Jess and Ava eitherside of me.

“All the papers are in order,” Janice stated, and then she reeled off some legal jargon as she flipped through the papers, and we nodded along. Then she looked up and smiled. “So, Ava, are you excited to have a new daddy?”

Ava took a moment to reply, then looking up at me, she replied, “He’s not my new daddy, he’s my only daddy.” And I swear my whole body melted with love for this girl.

Jess gripped my arm. She felt it too. This meant more to us than anything.

“That’s just lovely,” Janice said, placing her hand on her chest and sighing.

“My daughter is lovely,” I replied, and Ava grinned at me as she bounced in her seat.

“Well, let’s not wait any longer.” Janice placed the papers in front of us, with tabs attached to the places we needed to sign. “You’re such a beautiful family,” she said as we signed the papers, and Jess replied, “Thank you.”

When the last signature was signed, Janice took the papers, shuffled them, and placed them into a folder.

“Congratulations,” she announced, then peering from me to Ava she added, “I now pronounce you daddy and daughter. I’ll let you have the room for a while. Give you some privacy.” And she stood up from her desk and left through a door behind her.

I glanced down at Ava, and she grinned up at me, then peered around me at her mum. “I’ve got a daddy.” She giggled.

“You’re Ava Isabella Evans now,” Jess told her.

“I like that name,” she replied proudly.

I reached over and pulled Ava off her chair, sitting her on my lap.

“I haveso many things I want to say, and no words to say them. I don’t think the words I choose could do justice to how I’m feeling right now. But, Ava, I hope you know how much I love you. I’ll always love and protect you. You and Mum. I’ll be there for whatever you need, no matter what. I’m going to be the best daddy anyone has ever known.”

“I know you will,” she stated confidently. “You’re always the best.”

I took the box out of my pocket and handed it to her. “I wanted to give you this, on your daddy day. I hope you like it.”

She gasped as she opened the box and saw the diamond encrusted key pendant on a chain inside.

“It’s so pretty.” She held the box like it was the most precious thing in the world.

“I brought the same one for Mummy,” I said, and Jess pulled the necklace out from where it was hiding underneath the fabric of her dress to show her. “The keys to my heart,” I said, sounding cringy, but I didn’t give a fuck.

“I have a key with me always now,” Ava said. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome, angel.” I picked the necklace out of the box and opened it, putting it around Ava’s neck and fixing the clasp. “Perfect. A pretty necklace for my pretty daughter. Something to let you know I’ll always be there. Always with you. Always.”

“Always,” Ava echoed, staring in wonder at her necklace.

“I love you guys.” Jess wrapped her arms around us, pulling us into a hug where we sat. “You’re so freaking cute, and I love it.”

“Only for you two.” I winked. “Only for you.”

Epilogue II

JESS

We drove over to Adam and Liv’s house, and for the whole journey, I felt like I was floating on air.

How was this my life?

If anyone had told me a few years ago that I’d be married, and my little girl would have the best daddy she could ever hope for, I’d have never believed it. From the ashes of a nightmare, we made something beautiful.

Fate really was a wonderful thing, because that’s what this was.