My father and Tatiana were waiting in the anteroom of the judge’s chambers when we walked in. The tension was thick. My father was on the phone, texting someone and giggling, while Tatiana glared at him icily.
“Sebastian!” Alfie ran and hugged me.
I picked him up and squeezed him tight. I waited for my father to say something, but he just ignored me, focused on his phone.
“Let’s get this over with,” Tatiana said.
Something soft and furry butted its head against my leg.
“Baxter?”
The pony nickered. He was wearing a vest that read Emotional Support Pony.
I looked over my shoulder. Amy was huddled in the corner.
She gave me a small wave.
I ignored her and turned back to my brother. “Are you okay?”
“I’m hungry!” he complained.
I shot Tatiana an icy glare.
“Were you not feeding him?”
“God!” she complained, rolling her eyes. “He’s not my kid. Why don’t you ask his father?”
He didn’t respond, just smiled at whatever popped up on his phone.
Tatiana elbowed him.
“What?” he asked, annoyed. “You’re the one who wanted the kid.”
The door to the judge’s chambers opened, and the clerk waved us in. Amy didn’t follow. The clerk closed the door once we were all inside.
At her desk, the judge looked at us over her spectacles and asked, “You’re here for the adoption?”
“The what?”
“Sebastian Rawlings, paperwork has been filed stating that you are going to adopt Alfred Rawlings. This means that you assume all legal and financial responsibility for this child. Dr. Daryl Rawlings, by signing this form, you are relinquishing all of your rights to the child.”
“Fine by me.”
I couldn’t believe it.
“I don’t understand,” I croaked.
“Mr. Rawlings, do you have a lawyer present who can explain everything to you?” the judge asked, peering at me over her glasses.
Hunter pushed me aside. “He’s just tired, Your Honor. He fully understands the terms of the adoption and is of sound mind.”
My father signed the forms, then I added my signature.
“A new birth certificate will be issued. You can come pick it up in two weeks,” the judge said. She opened a file cabinet and handed Alfie a small teddy bear.
“Congratulations on your adoption, kid. I hope you have a nice life.”
Tatiana took Alfie’s phone out of her purse and practically threw it at me.
