Impact (Suncoast Society #32)(69)

“Yes, your Honor. We filed the motion with your clerk last week.”

“Yes, I have it here. Please bring in the child, if she’s here.” He glanced at Santino’s attorney. “You and your clients are dismissed, unless you have further business with this court.”

“No, your Honor.”

As they left, the bailiff waved Loren in.

The judge stood, smiling, and walked around the desk. “May I?”

Loren looked to Landry, who nodded. She carefully handed the baby over to the judge, who expertly held her as if he was no stranger to infants.

“She’s beautiful. I deal with a lot of people, but I remembered her mother especially. Unfortunately, because of her injuries and her sad tale. I hope someone has cameras ready?”

“We sure do,” Loren said, holding her phone up. Tilly handed hers over to Dale.

The judge sat behind his desk, the baby cradled in his left arm, and picking up his pen with his right. “Then by the power vested in me by the state of California, I hereby approve this adoption, and as requested, her new name is Katherine Crista Guerrero-LaCroux.” He signed the paperwork as the pictures were taken. “Congratulations, little one. I hope your life from here on out is far better than the first couple of weeks have been.”

Landry didn’t bother trying to hide his tears as he kissed Tilly—who was crying—and Cris—also crying.

Loren took more pictures and video of them with the judge, and with Dale Waters, and then the bailiff helped take some of all of them together.

When they emerged thirty minutes later, Landry wanted to cry again at the beaming grin on Tilly’s face.

Even better, Cris’ family was nowhere to be seen.

Louisa Gonzalez, however, was waiting for them.

“Well?” she asked.

Landry hugged her. “Thank you. He approved her adoption. She is officially ours.”

“Ooh,” Loren said. “We need her picture, too!” After taking more pictures, they made their way toward the courthouse entrance.

“That’s one thing we haven’t bought for her yet,” Cris said as they walked outside.

“What?” Landry asked.

“A baby book to put all these memories in.”

“Then we’ll rectify that on the way home.”

They felt a small tremor shake the ground. In the parking lot, a few car alarms went off.

Loren gently smacked Tilly’s shoulder. “See? Told you it was a good sign.”





Chapter Twenty-Four


Loren returned to Florida once the move to the new condo was completed. The three of them wouldn’t be far behind her, Cris returning first to handle some issues at the Florida office while Tilly and Landry waited for Katie’s new birth certificate to come through.

Once home, they would get her a passport so she could travel with them wherever they wanted to take her, whenever they wanted to go.

Through the attorney, Dale found out that, no, there would be no appeal. “They can’t outspend you and don’t want to try,” he said.

Their last night in LA before flying back to Florida, Tilly curled up next to Landry. “Thank you, Daddy,” she whispered.

He curled around her. “Didn’t I promise my baby girl to make this happen?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Do you ever think you’ll want to let Cris see this side of you?”

She hesitated. “Maybe one day. Not yet. This is ours.”

“Fair enough, baby girl. Fair enough.”





An early-morning flight and losing several hours traveling east made for an exceptionally long day. Exhausted, Tilly crawled into bed, between Cris and Landry.

“I forgot how badly it sucks readjusting to Florida time. It’s easier going the other way.”

“Yeah,” Cris said. “At least I’ve got three days on you there. I’m so glad you’re home.”

She kissed him. “Ditto. I missed you. Thank you for going shopping.”

Landry and Tilly had been home less than two hours, after what felt like a lifetime away but had only been six weeks. Cris had gone out after his return, with Loren’s help, and purchased the bare necessities for the house, wanting to save the large shopping trip for when the three of them were together once more.

It was strange seeing Katie’s portable crib in what had been their guest room, but it would have been weirder had she been put in the playroom, equipment removed or not.

“So what do you wish to paint the nursery here, love?” Landry asked.

She sighed. “We’re not.”

He lifted his head. “No? I assumed we’d be tearing down the dungeon equipment and repurposing it since it’s a larger room than the guest room.”

“No,” she said. “We need to get this place ready to sell and go shopping for something larger.”

Landry chuckled. “How much larger, love?”

“Something with a pool and room for a hot tub. Maybe even big enough to build a little pool house.”

“Do tell?”

She snuggled tightly in his arms. “Yeah.”

“I thought you loved this house. This was your house. You worked very hard for it.”