Selah’s Wish (Imperial Knights MC #1)

Chapter 16

SIXTEEN

Butcher

My sister, niece, and nephew’s toys and other presents are still wrapped underneath our tree. Their stockings are still hung on the wall, loaded down with gift cards and other small items, including an abundance of candy, which my sister is going to be thrilled about. Not really, she may take a baseball bat after my ass.

I long to see them here with us, excitement dancing in their eyes as they unwrap each and every one of them. We had hope that they’d be here today with us, but there was some sort of delay. RiffRaff swore it was nothing to be concerned about, but until I have them here with me, I won’t be resting easily.

Nitro and the girls are bent over his new Nerf gun set, dreaming of going outside and shooting at the trees and other targets. The living room is stacked with dolls, board games, books, clothes, shoes, and other toys. Selah and I pick up wrapping paper and stuff it into the trash bags. When she grabs four extra bags and shakes them until they open up, I shoot her a quizzical look.

“For the last year, your toys and clothes have been mounting up. With what you got today, I think it's a good idea for us to go through your clothes and toys and pick the things that either no longer fit you or that you don't enjoy playing with and donate them. Not all kids are as lucky as you guys are. What do you say? Are you in?”

“That’s a great idea,” I say in agreement. Selah and I aren’t the only ones who’ve spoiled the kids throughout the year, they have a plethora of aunts and uncles who pitched in and made sure they had plenty to keep them occupied and clothed.

“We’ll work the rooms together,” Hannah inserts. “It can become a family tradition.”

Reaching out, I pull her ponytail until she leans into me. When she’s nestled into my arms, I tell her, “Love you, Hannah. You make me so proud every day.”

“Love you too, Papa,” she replies, burying her face into my abs. The kids have slowly started coming around and accepting praise and words of affection.

“We should start with the closets first,” Amelia suggests. “We’ll need the hangers to put up our new shirts.”

My eyes well with what some would call misty tears, I call it being around too many festive decorations and my allergies paying the price for it. “I’m so proud of each and every one of you. You make a man happy to call you his.”

“We’ve learned by watching you, Pops,” Nitro states, causing me to sniffle much to Selah’s delight.

“Don’t get all emotional on us now, biker man,” she taunts. “You have a reputation to uphold.”

“I’m not emotional,” I rebut, scowling at her.

“It’s okay to feel, Dad,” Hannah reminds me. “It means you care.”

“Whatever,” I huff out. “We got a job to do, ladies and gentleman, let’s get to it. Those bags aren’t going to fill themselves.”

Nitro has more than the girls do combined so we end up needing three trash bags for his room. He’s such a giving kid that he inspects each and every toy and article of clothing before deciding if it should be donated or trashed.

“Will Wyatt and Willow be coming with their toys, Dad?” Nitro asks as he looks at his handheld game he got two Christmases past. He received an updated version of it this year, so he’s not sweating getting rid of the one in his hand.

“I think so, buddy,” I answer. “But we can hold onto that and the games until they get here and know for sure.”

“Okay,” he says, nodding his head as he grabs another bag out of the box and sets it in another corner. We now have three piles growing. One for donation, one for trash, and one for his cousin.

“What size is Willow?” Selah asks me, and as I turn toward her, I can see the cog wheels turning in her brain.

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “It’s why we got them gift cards instead of clothes, remember?”

“I guess we should just donate what we have and start fresh for them,” she concludes, nodding her head.

“A fresh start all the way around might be a good idea,” I say, hoping that the kids aren’t carrying demons with them the way I’m sure Joce does.

“When they get here, we’ll plan a shopping day with the old ladies,” Selah tells me, a little too enthusiastically in my opinion.

I have a bristling feeling my credit card is going to be getting a work out. If I gave a shit about that, I’d hide it from her, but I don’t. Not to mention, she’s got herself a nice little nest egg of her own, she may not even let me pay a single dime for any of it.

“You’re going to let me pitch in for the shopping extravaganza, right?” I ask, giving her a look that lets her know she’s not going to get away with not accepting my help.

“Of course,” she says, batting her eyelashes at me.

I choose not to call her out on her little lie, instead, we continue along this path until all of the rooms, including our own, have been gone through with a fine tooth comb.

“Come on, kids, we’re due up at the clubhouse for family dinner,” I announce, cupping my hands around my mouth so my voice carries down the hallway.

“Coming!” they shout in unison causing Selah to giggle.

“There are times I think they practice doing that,” she tells me. “It’s like a chorus, especially when they’re up to no good.”

“What do you think they’re up to?” I inquire, raising my brows at her.

“They did take Hannah’s new art set into her room earlier,” she reminds me. “They tried to be sneaky, but I saw them.”

I don’t get a chance to reply before they all come into the room, their hands hidden behind their backs. “What do y’all have there?”

Hannah steps forward, and announces, “We didn’t have any money to buy y’all gifts, so we made you both a card.”

Hannah reaches out her hand, shaking a folded up piece of cardstock at me. “For me?” I ask.

“Yes,” she shyly clarifies. When it’s in my hands, she steps back and Amelia and Faye take her place, passing theirs over to me.

I open them in order and nearly drop to my knees.

Faye’s reads,

“Thank you for being my dad. I love you. Merry Christmas.”

Amelia’s states,

“To the best Dad in the universe. Thank you for being mine. Merry Christmas.”

Last, but not least, I open Hannah’s and a knot forms in my throat when I open it up and digest the words.

“Thank you for choosing me. I always wanted a Dad and am glad you decided to love me back. Merry Christmas, Daddy.”

“Dad,” Nitro hesitantly calls me close to him. “Is this okay to give, Selah?”

When I open it up, my chin falls to my chest. “Yeah, buddy. This is perfect,” I reassure him, reaching up and ruffling his hair. “Love you, buddy.”

“Love you too, Pops.” He reaches over me, simultaneously hugging me and passing Selah her card to her over my shoulder. “This is for you, Mom.”

I twist my head and watch her read it. Tears stream down her face as she hiccups. “Oh, Nitro. Yes, I’ll be your forever Mom.” She stands over me, stretching down and plucking my boy from my arms. “I love you too, son. Merry Christmas.”