I pulled him in for a quick hug. “Two brothers and Gracie, and baby Tate as….” I realized for the first time that Gracie and Tate would technically be their niece and nephew. “Cousins,” I settled on. Our family would never be traditional and that was more than fine with me. It felt perfect in an imperfect sort of way. “It’s a big exciting day.” I grinned.
“And a mommy and a daddy,” he added seriously. “We get that today, too.”
I fought the ragged breath that tried to escape. Cal and I hadn’t wanted to push the kids to think of us as their parents. Not until they were ready. I looked over at Cal, whose expression was warmer than I’d ever seen. “Yeah, honey,” I managed over the lump in my throat. “A mommy and a daddy too.”
After breakfast, we headed to our hearing. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as we neared the courthouse. I saw Patrick, our lawyer, waiting out front with our social worker.
This was really happening.
The realization hit me hard as Cal and I both got the kids out of the SUV and walked toward the courthouse steps. I carried Mason while Cal took the hands of both Max and Emmie.
“Ready?” Mrs. Morse asked me with a smile. Over the course of her last two visits she’d been warmer toward us.
I blew out a nervous breath. “Ready.”
I had to suck that breath right back in when we walked into the courtroom. What looked like the entire club lined every pew.
My breath caught at their show of support. Sophie beamed at me, offering a thumbs-up when I caught her eye.
“Wook, Jilly! Everyone is here!” Emmie exclaimed happily. I watched Cole shoot her a wink and a wave.
“Yes, baby. They’re all here,” I rasped, squeezing her hand as we moved to stand in front of the judge.
Patrick issued a statement that confirmed our intention to formally adopt Max and Emmie followed by a statement confirming Cal’s intent to adopt Mason.
The judge pushed his glasses up his nose and turned his attention toward the kids. “So, Max, what do you think about all this?” he asked kindly. “Do you want to live with your aunt and Mr. Jackson?”
We’d been told the judge might want to ask the kids a few questions.
“Yes,” Max replied without delay.
“Are you happy living with them?” the judge continued.
“Yes,” Max replied again in his trademark serious tone. “They take care of us. They read to us. I like my room and all my books. I like Jilly’s muffins. She makes a lot of good food,” he rambled, something he tended to do a lot when he was serious about something. “And they pick me up from school. They never forget us. I have friends at school,” he informed the judge. “And I know how to swim now. I can go underwater and everything.”
The judge smiled. “Sounds like you’re having fun, Max. How about you Miss Emmie? Do you want to live with Mr. Jackson?”
“Mr. Jackson?” Emmie looked up at me, confused.
“Cal,” I murmured with a smile.
“Ohhhhh,” she replied. “Yes!” She beamed, jumping up and down. “Today is adopton day. Look at my pretty dress!”
“Very nice.” He chuckled, looking down at his paperwork. “Everything is in order,” he continued as my heart began to pound in my chest. “Max, would you like to bang my gavel?” he asked.
Max grinned and nodded shyly. Cal scooped him up and carried him over. “Do the honors, bud,” he coaxed with a grin.
Max lifted up the gavel and knocked it down, the sound quiet and yet, for me at least, resonating with a life-altering boom.
The room erupted in cheers as the entire club rose to their feet. Max looked at the room, the biggest smile I’d ever seen lighting up his face.
I held Mason close, Emmie holding on to my leg as I watched Cal stride toward me, Max in his arms. The five of us embraced for the first time as an official family.
Every day with Cal and the kids, I thought it couldn’t get better. And yet, every day it did.
“It feels like you’ve been pregnant forever,” I mused most unhelpfully to Sophie as we sat outside the club celebrating that evening. Scarlet seemed to muffle a snort in reply.
“Gee, thanks. Feels like it’s going by in a heartbeat for me,” Sophie replied dryly.
