Chapter 17
The adoption process took six months.
There were home studies.
Background checks.
Interviews.
Paperwork upon paperwork.
But finally, in September, the day arrived.
We stood in front of a judge.
Marcus held my hand.
The children stood beside us, dressed in their best clothes, their faces glowing with excitement.
The judge asked Marcus if he was sure he wanted to adopt four children.
If he understood the responsibility.
If he was ready to love them as his own.
Marcus looked at each child in turn.
Then he looked at the judge.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. These children are my heart. I love them. And I will spend the rest of my life proving that to them."
The judge smiled.
Then she signed the papers.
"By the power vested in me by the state of Texas, I now declare these children legally and permanently yours. Congratulations."
The courtroom erupted in cheers.
Our friends and family who'd come to support us clapped and cried.
The children hugged Marcus.
Then they hugged me.
Then they hugged each other.
We were officially a family.
Legally.
Permanently.
Forever.
After the hearing, we had a big party at the house.
All of our friends came.
My employees.
Neighbors.
Aunt Margaret flew in from Colorado.
She brought Eleanor's favorite cookies.
"She would have been so happy," she said, hugging me. "So proud of all of you."
"I know she would."
That night, after all the guests had left, the children fell asleep on the couch, exhausted from the excitement.
Marcus and I sat in the garden, looking at the stars.
"We did it," he said.
"We did it."
He pulled me close.
"I love you, Kesha Reynolds. And I love our four amazing children."
"I love you too, Marcus Reynolds."
He kissed me.
And for the first time in a long time, I felt completely at peace.
The past was behind us.
Daniel was gone, building a new life in California.
Eleanor was gone, but her love was with us always.
And the future...
The future was bright.
Full of hope.
Full of love.
Full of possibility.
I thought about everything we'd been through.
Daniel leaving me while I was pregnant.
The terror of raising four babies alone.
The struggle to build a business from nothing.
Daniel's return.
The court battle.
Eleanor's illness and death.
And now this.
This moment of perfect happiness.
It had been a long journey.
Hard.
Painful.
But worth every step.
Because it had led me here.
To this man.
To these children.
To this life I'd built, brick by brick, with my own two hands.
Marcus squeezed my hand.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about how lucky we are."
"We are lucky," he agreed. "But we also earned this. Every bit of it."
He was right.
We'd earned it.
Through tears and sweat and fear.
Through love and courage and hope.
We'd earned this happiness.
May you like
And we were going to hold onto it.
Forever.
