Life in Jessica's small house had settled into a warm, comfortable rhythm with Lucas now fully a part of it. Mornings were a cheerful chaos of preparing bottles and getting the twins dressed, while evenings were spent in quiet contentment, the four of them together in the cozy living room. đ
One such evening in mid-April, Lucas was on the floor, carefully building a wobbly tower of colorful blocks for an attentive Kiara and Kaira. Jessica watched from the sofa, her heart full, a soft smile on her face as she observed the man who had so completely embraced her daughters as his own.
He placed the final block on the tower and turned his beaming face to the girls. "Look, my girls! Look what Dada built for you!"
He said it so naturally, the title having woven itself seamlessly into their daily lives. He reached out to tickle Kaira's chin. She giggled, her bright blue eyes sparkling, and then, with a look of intense concentration, her little mouth opened. đ
"Da-da," she cooed, the sound clear and unmistakable in the quiet room.
A stunned silence fell for a second. Then, as if not to be outdone, Kiara, her serious gray eyes fixed on Lucas, echoed her sister. "Da-da."
Lucas froze, his breath catching in his throat. He looked from one daughter to the other, his eyes shimmering with sudden, overwhelming tears. He looked up at Jessica, who had her hands clasped over her mouth, her own eyes glistening. đđ
He scooped both girls into his arms, holding them close as they babbled their new, favorite word. "That's right," he whispered, his voice thick with a joy so profound it felt like healing. "I'm your Dada."
In that simple, miraculous moment, the last of the lingering ghosts were laid to rest. He was no longer just a man helping out; he was, in every way that mattered, their father.đ