Intent(91)
“That son of a bitch. After all this time.” Absorbing all of this is a bit much, but when my eyes drop back to the plastic stick in my hand, I realize it doesn’t matter. “It’s in the past. He’s in the past. I’ve found everything I could ever want or need, right here in Oak Grove.”
“Exactly. But you have to admit, my swimmers are strong. They can do the breaststroke like nobody’s business. We need to come up with a better name for how mine perform, though. Something manly, like ‘big daddy stroke.’ No, I’ve got it. ‘The Big D Stroke.’ That’s perfect.”
Through the happy tears that are falling from my eyes, I start to laugh and can’t stop. The harder I try to contain it, to not wake the baby, or disturb Zoe, the worse it gets. “I love you more every day, Ace. Thank you for showing me that a life without love isn’t a life worth living at all.”
“You made me want to love, Layne. You’re the only woman my heart recognizes.” He kisses me softly. “But you’ve also taught me how to open my heart and love in other ways. There’s one more beautiful love surprise waiting for you, if you feel up to it.”
“A beautiful love surprise? My heart is so full, I don’t know how it could get any better.”
Ace sends a quick text and moments later, the hospital room door opens. Marcia walks in with a large envelope in her hand and a broad smile on her face. She pulls up a chair beside us and puts her hand over our joined hands.
“Layne, I honestly think the handful of papers in this envelope are the best ideas I’ve ever seen in my life,” Marcia states.
“What are they?”
She pulls out the paperwork and hands it over to Ace and me. When I scan the documents, my mouth drops open and I’m crying all over again. My head snaps to Ace first. “Really?”
“Absolutely.”
When I look over at Zoe, her gaze is trained on me. Hopeful, but also trying to hide the fear of rejection. “You’re sure?” I ask her.
“Without a doubt.”
“So what do you say, my love?” Ace asks, though he already knows my answer.
“I say… I have the best family in the world. I am honored and humbled to officially adopt both of my daughters, Zoe and River.”
* * *
It has now been six weeks since Kylie was born. Six weeks since I found out I’m pregnant. Six weeks since I was presented with the paperwork to adopt both Zoe and River. I’ve also started my own prenatal visits and learned that I’m now almost three months along. Apparently, “The Big D Stroke” does accurately describe his swimmers. The end of summer came and went, but Marcia arranged for me to have maternity leave for the adoption. She’s moving back here permanently and opening a branch of the firm nearby.
We’re now standing in front of the judge so he can witness Zoe sign the paperwork to confirm her consent to being adopted by Ace and me. Once this is finalized, her last name on her birth certificate will be changed and she will be a legal member of the Sharp family. As River’s stepmother, the adoption process is slightly simpler than adopting Kylie was, but she also officially becomes my daughter today.
They have both always been mine in love anyway.
My beautiful love surprise from my beautiful family.
Epilogue
ACE
Six years later
* * *
Zoe just started her first year of law school after graduating with honors from the University of Georgia. She’s following in her grandmother’s and mother’s footsteps, and we couldn’t be prouder of her. Before we adopted her when she was eighteen, my mom approached me with the awesome idea.
“Ace,” she tentatively started the conversation. “I worry about Zoe not having any family to help her. What if she gets off to school and needs help? Who will be there for her?”
“Layne and I will be,” I replied resolutely. “Layne has told her many times that she thinks of Zoe as her daughter.”
“Would you be willing to adopt Zoe and make it legal?”
“She’s eighteen, Mom. She’s an adult. How can we adopt her?”
“That actually makes it easier to adopt her than it is to adopt her baby. It helps in cases like hers. She still has a year of high school to go before college. And you know even though she’s legally an adult, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t still need parental guidance. If she agrees, this will give her and Layne the family they’ve always wanted but never had.”
“I know for a fact that Layne would be absolutely overjoyed with this idea. I have a feeling Zoe would, too.”
“Do you mind if I talk to Zoe about it?”
“Not at all.”
Mom made good on her word and explained everything to Zoe. The legal ramifications of it, what it would do to her relationship with her parents, and the positive aspects it would have for Zoe. Without hesitation, she jumped at the chance to join our family. Her only concern was that Layne wouldn’t actually want to adopt her. She was thrilled to be wrong.
Zoe gave a speech at her college graduation where she spoke of the unconditional love she’d received from the mom, dad, and grandmother she’d gained after she was adopted as an adult. A hush fell over the crowd as she told them about the events of her life and how the love from one person turned the tide for her entire future. Her speech conclusion was met with cheers and tears from the audience—and sobs from Layne.