“Mr. Jamison.” Judge Williams turned back to me, and for the first time since the lunch break, her expression softened. “Stand up, please.”
My legs felt like water, but somehow I managed to get to my feet. Debbie hopped up beside me, reaching for my hand with complete trust. Sarah rose and placed a hand on Debbie’s shoulder.
“By the power vested in me by the State of Georgia, I hereby grant the petition for adoption. Deborah Sarah Morrison is now, legally and permanently, Deborah Sarah Jamison.”
The gavel came down with finality that seemed to echo through my bones.
“Forever and always,” the judge added with a conspiratorial wink aimed directly at Debbie.
Debbie squealed and threw her arms around my waist, and suddenly I was crying—ugly, grateful, overwhelming tears I couldn’t have stopped if my life depended on it.
“She’s mine. She’s really mine? She’s really mine,” I repeated, over and over. “You’re mine forever, Button.”
“I was always yours, silly Daddy,” she said, her voice muffled against my suit jacket. “Now we just have the paper to prove it.”
Sarah was suddenly beside us, her professional composure cracking into a genuine smile as her arms wrapped around usboth in a legally binding group hug. “Congratulations, Theo, to both of you.”
Behind us, I heard the sharp click of Linda’s heels against marble growing fainter as she and her attorney stormed out of the courtroom.
I didn’t turn to watch them go.
I didn’t care.
The only thing that mattered was the little girl in my arms who was now officially, legally, permanently my daughter.
“Mr. Jamison,” Judge Williams called from the bench, and when I looked up, she was smiling. “I have one stipulation on this order.”
My heart stuttered. “Your Honor?”
“I insist that you and Miss Deborah—excuse me, Miss Jamison—pose for a photograph with me in my courtroom before you leave. It isn’t every day I get to witness such an obvious example of what family really means.”
Relief flooded through me so completely I almost laughed. “Of course, Your Honor. We’d love that.”
Ten minutes later, we stood flanking Judge Williams behind her bench, Debbie perched on her chair wearing the judge’s spare reading glasses and holding the gavel like a scepter. Sarah captured the moment with my phone and quickly AirDropped it to the judge and herself.
It was our first image as father and daughter.
“Thank you,” I said to Judge Williams as we prepared to leave. “For seeing us, for understanding what we are to each other.”
“Mr. Jamison,” she said quietly, “love makes a family. Everything else is just paperwork.”
We strode out of the courthouse, Debbie skipping beside me and chattering about showing Sir Hornsworth her new adoption certificate.
I couldn’t pull out my phone fast enough.
“Sarah, can you watch Debbie for a minute? I need to make a call.”
Sarah gave me a knowing smile and nodded. “Debbie, would you like some ice cream? They have the really good soft stuff in the cafeteria.”
The moment they turned, my fingers punched the screen.
I had good news to share.
I had a family to celebrate.
Jeremiah answered on the first ring.
I was already bawling again.
