“And I want you,” I say as she slides out the small wooden jewelry box.
“Wow, I love it.”
“There’s more.”
She opens the tiny drawer and examines the single piece inside. “It’s a…”
“Token of who you belong to.”
Taking the choker from inside she hands it to me and then pulls her hair back and to the side.
I bring the back of the engraved jewel close to her face so she can read the inscription. ‘Daddy’s. Always.’ Then I carefully attach it around her neck.
“It’s never coming off.”
“Good, because the whole world needs to know who’s claimed you.”
“Who my heart belongs to,” she says, bringing her hand up to her neck to run her fingers across the silk and then the stone.
“Who all of you belongs to.”
She nods. “Yes, Daddy. All of me.”
“Good girl.”
Suddenly she bursts out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Two nights ago you choke out Freddy in this house, and today I leave the house with a choker. Irony or do I sense a trend of violence?” she playfully winks.
“What you sense is paternal protectiveness, possessiveness, and most importantly respect, trust, and love.”
“You…?”
I nod. “That’s right little one. Daddy loves you.”
“Oh, Daddy.”
She throws herself in my arms and we walk out the door, the sun just beginning to set.
“Look,” she says pointing at the pink and purple hues streaking across the sky. “You’re literally carrying me off into the sunset.”
“It’s our destiny,” I say, no pun intended.
“And now I’m Daddy’s Destiny.”
“Damn right you are,” I growl.
She reaches up from my grip and our two lips meet.
Sometimes in life, you need to give destiny a little kick in the pants to get things started, and she sure did exactly that by showing up at my shop. Young, smart as a whip, beautiful, and all mine. What more could a Daddy want? Nothing, because I’ve got the most priceless thing in the world in my arms.
Her.
Always.
“I love you, baby girl.”