“Before everyone else comes, I wanted to give you something, Esther.”
Drew’s eyes gleamed. “It’s so special, Nana, he wouldn’t even tell me what he bought.”
Ash leaned over and kissed him. “That’s because I didn’t buy anything. You’ll see.” He left them sitting in the living room and crossed the apartment to his office, where he picked up the file. Ash opened it for a moment, then, clutching it with slightly sweaty fingers, retraced his steps to Esther and Drew.
He stood in the entranceway to the living room, recalling all the unbearable nights as a child enduring Munson’s brutal attacks and the long, lonely years of sex with anonymous men. These two people found him and saved his life. He’d married one. Now it was Esther’s turn.
Drew’s voice pulled him back to reality.
“Ash? Is everything okay?”
Allowing a brief smile to touch his lips, Ash ignored Drew’s question and walked to Esther and kneeled at her side.
“Asher, sit next to me. Don’t sit on the floor.”
“Esther.” Still holding on to the file, he took her soft hand in his. “I love you. And I don’t need a holiday to tell me that miracles can happen, because having you in my life is a miracle I still don’t believe I deserve.”
Her lips pursed and she squeezed his hand. “Don’t say that. It upsets me that after all these years you still feel that way about yourself. You have no idea how special you are to me. To everyone. We love you.”
He brought their entwined fingers to his lips and gave them a kiss. “And I love you. Which is why, after all these years, I think it’s the right time to do this.” He handed her the file. “Happy Chanukah, Esther.”
“Asher? What’s going on?” She made no move to open it.
“You’ll need to open it first.” He stood and took his seat next to Drew. Noticing Drew’s grimace, he checked his watch. “Is it time for your pain meds?”
Drew waved him off. “I’m fine.” He caught Ash’s fingers with his and lowered his voice. “What did you do?”
“Something I always wanted but didn’t think possible. Until now,” Ash murmured, and raised his voice to normal. “Esther, go ahead please.”
She pulled out a sheaf of papers and began to read. After scanning the pages for a moment, her eyes grew wide and her mouth hung open. Her stunned gaze shot to Ash’s, then returned to the documents in her hand.
“Asher…I don’t…what…” She set the papers down and wiped her eyes. “My darling boy, come here.”
“Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” Drew glared at him but for the first time, Ash’s main concern wasn’t Drew.
He returned to Esther’s side and she laid her hand on his cheek. “You drew these papers up?”
“I had a judge who’s a friend of mine prepare it. I can never file the documents because with Drew and I married, it wouldn’t be legal. But I wanted you to know how I felt. And what you mean to me.”
“But this?”
“It’s all I’ve ever wanted.” He covered her hand with his. “When I was little, I dreamed of having a real family. A mother and father who’d want me and love me the way I am. Then I saw the ugly side of life and knew that wasn’t ever going to happen for me.” A stab of pain shot through him, and he closed his eyes for a moment. “Until I met you. Knowing you, Esther, gave me faith that life might turn out okay. You’re the person who believed in me even when I’d given up on myself and I just wanted…I needed to tell you…”
Words didn’t often fail him, but they did at that moment, trying to express what this lady meant to him.
“Darling Asher. I don’t need a piece of paper to prove you’re a part of me. But to know that you did this for us is as much of a miracle as the story of Chanukah. I’ve had so much pain in my life, from losing my family in the war, living through the horror of what I saw in the camps, to losing my only child.”
Anguish twisted in his chest at all this woman had been through yet survived with so much dignity, grace, and forgiveness. He held her hand as tightly as he dared as she continued to speak.
“There were days I thought of giving up. But something told me it wasn’t time yet. And now I know why.” Her sweet smile curled around his heart. “I was waiting for you, my darling, sweet son. Finding love is always the greatest miracle of all.”
“If someone doesn’t tell me what’s happening, I’m going to get up and take those papers myself.” Drew’s irritated voice broke the silence.
“If you do, you’ll be in trouble,” Ash said mildly.
“Drew,” Esther said, “Asher has drawn up adoption papers between us.” Her eyes glimmered. “I’m going to treasure this forever. I don’t need a court to tell me you’re my child. I’ve loved you from the first.”
Drew screwed up his face. “I still don’t understand.”
