“But she’smydaughter, Cooper,” Rebekah rasps.
My stomach flops, and my throat feels like it’s closing up. “Yes, she is, and as unorthodox as it is, she’s my daughter too. I might be her uncle by blood, but you left her in my arms. I was twenty-four, Bekah, and you know I didn’t know a thing about kids. Only by the grace of God has she turned out this way. But I love her. I’d do anything for her.Anything.”
“I know you would.” She brushes a few tears away.
“Tell me what you want. Name it.”
“Coop, I don’t want anything else from you. I’m not here to gain anything, not even my rights as her mother. I’m here to sign the papers. I’m not going to fight you.”
My eyes burn, and I blink quickly. “Really?”
“Yes. I … I’m a lot better now. I’ve been sober for six months. But I can’t be what my little girl needs, and it’s better for her to stay with you.”
“I’ll take care of her,” I rasp. “I love her, and I love you, Rebekah, please know that.”
She nods and sniffs.
“I know you will, Coop. That’s why I know this is what’s best for her,” Rebekah says.
“But you’re still her mother. She needs a mother,” I tell her, my voice cracking in half.
She glances over my shoulder, where Mae sits.
“I think you already found her one,” Rebekah whispers.
“She’s an amazing woman. I wouldn’t have let her near Naomi if she wasn’t.”
Rebekah smiles sadly and meets my eyes. “I know. I trust you, brother. I want Naomi to have everything I couldn’t give her, so if you say she can be a good mother for my baby, then that’s what I want for her. Please promise me one thing…” she rasps, and takes a deep breath.
“What is it?” I ask her.
“I want to come see her every couple of months. I want to have some kind of relationship with her, even if it can’t be what I wish I was. Will you let me have that?”
I nod and wiggle my nose to stop the tears. “Of course. You don’t even have to ask.”
“Maybe you should talk to your woman first,” Rebekah says.
I dip my chin. “I can do that. But I can already tell you the answer is yes.”
“Good,” she says, and turns to the judge.
“Judge? I’ll sign the papers.”
He leans back with a shocked look. “Never in my forty years as a judge have I ever seen anything like that,” Judge Caffrey says in utter disbelief. “Full guardianship custody has been granted. Get the paperwork signed,” he says, and slams his gavel.
Rebekah meets Ralph at his table, and he points to all the places she has to sign.
My daughter, Naomi Hayes, is legally mine.
Law or not, she’s always been my little girl.
I meet Rebekah at the table, and Mae is staring at me with wide eyes and a smile on her face.
I finish signing the paperwork and Ralph get’s Rebekah’s address to send her copies.
Rebekah turns and pulls me into a hug. I hold her closely, realizing we might have a plan for her to interact with Naomi and have a relationship with her. But if I know my sister she might disappear for a little while.
“Call me, or text me, write a letter, something, okay?” I tell her.
