by Susan Gable
She nodded, moisture gathering in her eyes.
"Don't," he warned. "Don't you dare cry, or I'm not giving you the present I got you."
Sarah's head snapped up. "Hey, it's my birfday. I get the presents, not Momma."
"Oh, I have stuff for you, sport. But your momma worked hard on your birthday, and I wasn't there for her. She gave me you, the best present in the whole world. I think she deserves something, too." He leaned forward to whisper in the little girl's ear. She nodded, and when he set her on the floor, she ran into the living room, giving her newly found grandparents a wary look and a wide berth.
"You got me a present?" Lexie asked.
"Yep. Come on in the kitchen." Arm still slung around her shoulder, he guided her to the table. Sarah stood beside it, arms behind her, rocking back and forth on her feet.
"Did you make the cake?" Lexie asked.
"Yes, I did. All by myself."
"It looks delicious."
"It looks ridiculous, but thank you." He nodded to Sarah. The little girl came forward and held out the box.
Lexie's eyes widened.
David snapped it open and took out the ring. The white-gold setting and tiny diamonds sparkled, refracting the light from overhead, but the blue teardrop sapphire in the middle shimmered like the captured Montana sky.
"Is that a Rock Creek sapphire?" she whispered.
"Yes," he said, slipping it on her finger. "To remind you of where you found a home for yourself and our daughter. And now, me. Thank you for making my dreams come true, Lexie. I love you."
Sarah tugged on his pant leg. "And me, Daddy?"
He picked her up. "Definitely you." He embraced both Sarah and Lexie at the same time. "Family hug."
"Family hug," Lexie echoed, still looking stunned. "I love you both."
As his parents watched, Sarah placed one hand on the back of each of David's and Lexie's heads, pushing them together until their noses bumped. "Now you gotta kiss. It's what mommas and daddies do."
David obliged his daughter, kissing Lexie tenderly.
Maybe being blinded by love wasn't so bad after all.
Sarah giggled. "And they lived happily ever after," she intoned. "Even if the daddy wasn't a king."
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