The Pairing (The Proposition #3)(88)

“G-Good morning,” Megan stammered.

“I understand that we’re here today to petition for the adoption of the minor child, Mason Patrick McKenzie?”

“Yes,” Megan and Pesh replied.

“First, we need to swear you all in,” the judge said.

Megan went through the motions of the procedure, trying desperately to calm her nerves. When Pesh had first broached the subject of formally adopting Mason, she initially had been thrilled and honored. But then she had to worry about whether Davis would allow Pesh to adopt Mason or not. Although he still had nothing to do with his son, Davis hadn’t shown a lot of enthusiasm about the prospect. The closer they got to the adoption hearing, the more Megan worried that he would refuse.

“Dr. Nadeen, I understand that you wish to adopt the minor child of your wife?”

Pesh nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, your honor, I would.”

“I see that you and your wife have been married less than two months, and that you’ve only known her a year.” The judge adjusted his glasses that had slid down his pointy nose. “Do you think it wise to legally bind yourself to this child after such a short time?”

Megan fought the urge to stalk up to the bench and smack the judge. Instead, she took deep breaths and tried to reign in her temper. She glanced over at Pesh who merely smiled pleasantly at the judge. “Your honor, I realize that on paper it might seem as though I am rushing into things. However, I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life as I am about my love for Megan and in turn, my love for Mason. I’ve waited a long time to be a father, and I don’t want to have to waste another second.”

“I see.” The judge eyed the folder open before him. “I understand the biological father has had no contact with the child.”

“That’s correct,” Megan replied.

“He has also waved his parental rights so that Dr. Nadeen can adopt his son.”

Megan exhaled a relieved breath that Davis had signed the paperwork. “I’m glad to hear that, your honor,” she said.

“Do you feel that your husband will make a good father for your son?”

“I never would have dated, least of all married him, if I didn’t believe that Pesh would be a good and loving father to Mason.”

“So the fact that he is a wealthy doctor had nothing to do with it?”

“How dare you!” Megan cried. When Pesh grabbed her arm to silence her, she slung him away. “You’ve known us for two minutes and you’re making assumptions about me, my husband, and my marriage? If this were about money, I could have used his father for child support considering he is a wealthy NFL player. But I would have sacrificed everything to ensure that my son had a good father!”

“Mrs. Nadeen, I will ask that you control yourself, or I will have to hold you in contempt,” the judge said sternly.

Pesh wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her against him. “Easy,” he murmured.

Although she hated to do it, she said, “I’m sorry, your honor.”

When he smiled at her, she gasped in surprise. “And I am sorry for rattling you, Mrs. Nadeen. I often say or do unorthodox things to see the true nature of the people who come before me.”

“You mean, you said that to get a reaction from me?”

“Yes, I did. And you unwaveringly rose to my challenge. I can see that you are truly concerned with the wellbeing of your son.”

Still reeling from the judge’s behavior, Megan mumbled, “Thank you.”

Peering down over the bench, the judge surmised Mason. “Son, do you know why you’re here today?”

“I gettin’ ‘dopted,” Mason replied.

The judge smiled. “Yes, you are. Do you want Pesh to be your daddy?”

“Uh, huh.”

“Do you want anyone else to be your daddy?”

“No,” Mason replied quickly, shaking his head back and forth.

“Then come up here while I sign the paperwork.”

Mason happily ran around the side of the bench to the judge. He climbed up onto the judge’s lap. After signing several sets of papers, the judge handed Mason his gavel. “Once you bang that gavel, Pesh is officially your daddy, and you are Mason Nadeen.”

With a broad grin, Mason brought the gavel down. Tears stung Megan’s eyes, and she gladly let Pesh pull her into his arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she murmured.

“I love you,” he replied, squeezing her tight.

“I love you, too.”

Their attention was drawn to where Mason kept banging the gavel. The judge chuckled. “Okay, I think that is enough. Why don’t you go to your mommy and daddy now?”

“Tell the judge thank you,” Megan instructed.

“Tank you,” Mason replied, before he hopped off the judge’s lap and came running to them. “I ‘dopted! I ‘dopted!”

Pesh bent down to pick him up. “That’s right, buddy. You’re my son for now and always.”

Megan smiled and patted Mason’s back as they started out of the courtroom. “Come on. Let’s go to Papa’s. We’ve got a big party for you there.”

Mason’s face lit up. “Ice cweam?

“Oh yes, there’s lots of ice cream just for you.”