“They speak very highly of you.”
“I’m very lucky and grateful to have some very kind and supportive people in my life.”
“Your colleague, a Mr. William Sands, writes here that ‘I may be older than him by a decade, but Reyes is the father I wish I had, because then maybe I would have been on the right track much earlier in life. He’s got a good head and a good heart.’”
Old Bill. I didn’t even know he said that.
I’ll have to remember to thank him later.
Reynolds shuffles to another letter. At the other table, Anita sighs impatiently. The judge ignores her.
“A Ms. Lila Hart writes, ‘It’s easy to recognize unconditional love in everything Evan provides to his son. Leo is thriving in a safe, supportive environment where he is allowed to be himself, no questions asked.’”
I remain quiet, but all I want to do is turn around, reach for Lila, and kiss her.
Reynolds sets the letters down, leans back in his chair, and drums his fingertips thoughtfully on his desk. When I look over at my lawyer, he’s already smiling at me. It’s subtle, but the optimism in his eyes is evident.
“Well,” says the judge after another long moment of silence, “I think it’s evident that my time has been utterly wasted with this today.”
I tense, my stomach dropping a little at the sudden trickle of annoyance in his tone, but his words are directed at Anita.
“Your Honor?” her attorney prompts him.
“It’s clear that Leo Reyes already has a family, even if it does not adhere to tradition,” Reynolds remarks. “Meanwhile, I see no evidence whatsoever that Ms. Collins has altruistic intentions. The only letter of support she provided is from the child’s biological grandmother, who has been about as present in hislife as Ms. Collins. Which is to say, hardly present at all. Isn’t that right, ma’am?”
“Well, no—no, I think—” Anita stutters.
“That’s enough,” the judge cuts her off. “His medical documentation shows that he is happy and healthy and well-adjusted, despite enduring the loss of a parent so early in life. He clearly has countless loved ones via Mr. Reyes, and therefore I cannot imagine that he lacks for proper nurturing. I see no reason to remove this child from a stable and loving home.”
“But, what about—” Anita attempts again.
“Quiet, please,” snaps Reynolds, before fixing his stoic gaze upon me. “In fact, should Mr. Reyes prefer to submit his formal adoption paperwork before the end of the year, I will personally ensure that the process is expedited.”
“YourHonor,” protests Anita.
He smacks the gavel. “That’s my final word. We’re finished here. Dismissed.”
A smile breaks across my face.
And finally, I turn around toward my family. Lila has tears in her eyes as she rushes out into the aisle to throttle me with a hug, and then I feel Noah and Hale patting my shoulders.
“It’s over,” Lila whispers to me. “You did it.”
“We did it,” I correct her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
And itisover. The last battle remaining darkened our doorstep, and we came out victorious.
Station 47 is safe from defunding. Banks’s poll numbers aren’t looking good with the election mere days away. The fundraiser has given us more than a million dollars to distribute across the FDNY. I’ve earned the love of an incredible woman, and I get to share that love with two people I care about deeply.
And, most of all, I am Leo’s father. And there is nothing anybody can do now to change that.
Chapter thirty
Epilogue: Lila
One Year Later
My alarm goes off at six o’clock, and I’m already smiling before I even open my eyes.
