Page 97 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins

Gia laughs. My cheeks flush. This is embarrassing.

“Sort of, yes. The point is that I loved Max, and… well… Max is your dad.”

Both kids’ brows furrow. They look at me like they don’t understand what Gia just said.

“Our dad is in heaven,” Dario says.

I try not to snort at that. Aldo is nowhere near heaven.

“He wasn’t your real dad,” Gia says gently. “Max is.”

"But…" Dario looks up at me. "Where were you before?"

Daniella nods. “Daddies are supposed to be with mommies and their kids.”

“He didn’t know,” Gia says.

I kneel down to their level. “I wish I had known sooner. But now that I do, I want to be here for you both."

"So you're staying?" Daniella asks.

I glance at Gia, I guess expecting more questions or a traumatic response.

“Like you said, mommies and daddies need to be with their kids,” I say in response.

“Yay!” Dario jumps up and down. The simplicity of their acceptance staggers me. No anger, no rejection, just curiosity and hope.

Daniella’s little face squishes up in thought. “Can we call you Daddy?”

It finally happens. My heart beats right out of my chest. “I’d love it… if you want to.”

“I want to.” Daniella nods, looking at Dario, who nods and agrees.

Gia’s eyes have misted with tears. “Well, I guess that settles that.”

I pull them all into a big hug, needing to wrap up my family in my love, to feel their love for me.

“Now, we need to finish breakfast and get to school.” Gia gives me a quick kiss, and then she’s off getting the kids on their routine.

At the designated time, I’m walking with Gia and the kids to school. It’s surreal to think I’m a father, a family man. I’d avoided thinking it would be too boring, but I can’t deny that I’m damn near skipping down the street with happiness.

As we reach the school, Dario calls out, “This is my daddy!” His and Daniella’s friends rush over. I say hello to them all, and then Gia shoos them into the building.

“They go in alone?” I ask, feeling like I should still be with them.

“Yes. They know what to do and where to go.”

“You’re sure?”

She looks up at me and laughs. “Yes, I’m sure. Come on, let's go home. You can continue to make up to me.”

My dick twitches. “If you insist.” I take her hand.

“Oh, I do.”

As we walk back to her townhome, I’m thinking about the day when she says, “I do,” in our wedding vows. I hope it’s sooner rather than later.

Gia tenses, and I look up to see Nic waiting outside her home.