Haley’s lawyer stands. “You say you love Aura. That she calls you ‘Mama.’ But isn’t it true that you’ve never legally adopted her?”
Millie meets his eyes without flinching. “That’s true. Because we were waiting for the court to decide. But if you’re asking if I’m her mother—then yes. In every way that matters.”
The lawyer tilts his head. “And would you be willing to let Ms. Marks be a part of Aura’s life?”
Millie breathes in slowly. “If Haley proves she can be safe, stable, and consistent—sure. I believe Aura deserves to know where she came from. But she also deserves protection from chaos. From confusion. If you love a child, you don’t drop in when you feel like it. You don’t leave and come back hoping they’ll still be waiting. That’s not love. That’s instability. And I won’t let that happen to her.”
The courtroom is still. No scribbling of notes, no whispering. Just stillness.
Then the judge shifts slightly in her seat, nodding. “Thank you, Ms. Feely. You may step down.”
Millie walks back to our table, and when she sits beside me, her hand finds mine under the table, fingers cold but strong. I squeeze them tight.
Finally, the judge speaks.
“I’ve reviewed the evidence, and it’s clear that the child’s best interest is with the parents she has known and loved. I am awarding full custody to Gabriel Sirolli and Millie Feely. Supervised visitation is granted to Ms. Marks, to be reassessed in six months depending on compliance with all court-ordered support.”
Haley gasps—sharp, like she’s been hit. She starts to rise, shaking her head.
“No,” she says, voice cracking. “She’smine.”
Her lawyer tries to calm her, but she pulls away. Her tears are loud now, almost violent. “You can’t just take my baby and call her yours!”
The judge stands. “This matter is settled, Ms. Marks. You may file for reevaluation in six months. Court is adjourned.”
It takes a moment to sink in. I look over at Millie, whose eyes are filled with tears, and then I see it—the relief flooding her expression. I can’t help it—I lean in and kiss her gently, but with everything I have.
We did it.We won.
The judge’s words echo in my mind as we exit the building. Full custody to Gabriel Sirolli and Millie Feely. That’s it. Aura’s ours.
Millie leans into me, pressing her forehead against my shoulder. “I can’t believe it,” she whispers, a soft laugh escaping her. “I can’t believe it’s really over.”
“Well, it’s not over,” I reply, my voice a little hoarse. “It’s just the beginning.”
Her smile widens at that, and for the first time today—in weeks, really—I finally feel like I can breathe.We did it, and in light of this victory, I know we’re stronger than anything we’ve faced.
As we walk into The Grilled Plate, our friends and family are awaiting our arrival. Millie’s parents, Lucie and Kenna, Asher and Reuben, and Josh, along with the rest of the CFPD crew, are all here.
“Come here!” Kenna calls, waving us over. “We are so happy for the both of you!”
Millie walks ahead of me, a hand pressed to her chest as she’s still trying to process the moment. She’s always had this way of glowing when she’s around her family, and right now, it’s more beautiful than ever. I slide into the chair next to her as she settles beside me with Aura on her lap, and I’m flooded with pride.
Epilogue
GABRIEL
One year later…
It's a quiet afternoon, the soft hum of the sun filtering through the blinds, casting a warmth over everything. I'm sprawled on the couch, watching Millie and Aura on the floor, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
Aura's sitting on the floor, legs crossed under her, her tiny hands lying on her lap. Millie is beside her. Her hair is pulled back into a messy bun, the sleeves of her shirt rolled up, her gaze focused on the set of colored flashcards as she tries to guide Aura through the colors,
"Okay, what color is this, sweets?" Millie asks our daughter, holding up a bright red card.
Aura's little face scrunches up in concentration. She squints at it, her lips pursing as if she's deep in thought. And then, after a few seconds, she squeals with delight, pointing at the card and shouting, "RED!"
Millie's face lights up like a Christmas tree. "That's right, baby! Red, good job!"
