I looked at Chloe, who nodded. “I don’t care what it costs.”
“I’ll get the paperwork started.”
After we hung up, Chloe and I sat on the bed in silence for a long moment.
“So,” Chloe finally said, her voice carefully controlled. “I should feel angrier. I want to be furious on Leo’s behalf. But mostly I just feel… relieved.”
I looked at her. “Relieved?”
“That we don’t have to co-parent with someone who sees Leo as an inconvenience.” Chloe met my eyes. “Is that terrible? To be relieved that Leo’s mother doesn’t want him?”
“No,” I said quietly. “Because she’s not his parent anymore. Not really. We are.”
“We are,” Chloe repeated, and something in her expression softened. “He’s our son.”
Our son. She was claiming Leo as ours.
“When did you decide that?” I asked quietly.
“I don’t know exactly when.” Chloe’s voice was fierce. “But Sam, he’s ours.”
I pulled her close, overwhelmed by this woman who’d gone from having her life turned upside down by my secrets to fighting fiercely for a child she’d known for less than a month. “I love you,” I said.
“I love you too.” She pulled back to look at me. “Now let’s go tell Harper she can go home. I’m sure Leo wants to show me his puppy drawings.”
We walked back out to find Leo showing Harper an elaborate arrangement of his drawings around a block tower he’d built.
“Look! It’s a room for the puppies!” Leo announced proudly.
Harper caught my eye and stood up. “Leo, this is the best puppy tower I’ve ever seen.”
“Really?” Leo beamed.
“Yes, really.” Harper gave him a quick hug, then looked at us. “Call if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” Chloe said, walking her to the door.
Once Harper left, Leo immediately grabbed Chloe’s hand. “Dr. Chloe, come see! I made one drawing for every puppy!”
Chloe settled on the floor beside him. “Tell me about each one.”
I watched them together – Leo explaining his artwork with intensity, Chloe asking questions and admiring every detail – and felt everything click into place.
This was our family. Unexpected, complicated, born out of secrets and lies and painful choices. But ours.
Jenna had made her decision. She’d chosen David’s money over her son’s well-being. Maybe she thought she was giving Leo a better life by leaving him with us. Maybe she was just taking the easy way out. Maybe both things were true.
But it didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was the little boy showing Chloe his drawings.
“Sam-Sam?” Leo looked up at me. “Are you okay? You look sad.”
“I’m not sad, buddy. I’m happy.”
“Then why do you have water in your eyes?”
“Sometimes people cry when they’re happy too,” Chloe said gently, meeting my gaze with understanding.
“Oh.” Leo thought about this. “Okay.” Leo went back to his blocks, satisfied with this explanation. “Can we eat now? My tummy is making hungry noises.”
