Page 159 of Until I Have You

Does everyone know something I don’t?

Bonnie unfolds the paper, glances at the guests, then up at me.“Um… I’m kinda nervous.”

“It’s okay,” I encourage her, not knowing what she’s about to say.

Bonnie looks down at the paper as if she is reading something in it.“Okay.Um… Abigail, I know today is the special day you will always share with my dad, but this day will always be special for me too.Because this is the day that we officially become a family.”

I was going to hold off on the crying until the vows, yet here I am, tamping down the swell of emotions in my chest.

“From the day you saved me in the aquarium, you’ve been my hero.Every day with you is full of adventures.You give the best hugs and always know what to say, even when I’m sad.”

I hold my breath, placing a hand on my chest.

“At first, you were my friend, but then you were more than a friend.And now that you’re marrying my dad, you’ll always be my family.”

I will.Always.

“But something didn’t sit right with me the closer we got to today.Because you feel like my mum, and if you’re my mum, I should call you that.”

“Of course, you can, Bonnie,” I say, trying to keep my tears at bay.

Bonnie smiles bigger.“But that doesn’t feel like enough either.I want you to really be my mum.”

I furrow my brow, poised to ask a question until, Bonnie sticks her finger up in the air.“The documents, please!”

Laughter fills the small church, but I am still at a loss for what’s happening.

Theo reaches into his jacket for another piece of paper and gives it to Bonnie.

“Thank you, sir,” she says as she takes it.

He smiles.“You’re welcome, milady.”

I could kiss his stupid silly face right now if custom allowed for it.Although custom doesn’t usually call for the groom’s daughter to make a speech either.

Theo must be reading my mind because he throws me an impish wink, making my stomach swoop.

“This is for you!”Bonnie holds the paper up to me.

I take the paper and unfold it.

In bold at the top of the document reads:

PETITION FOR ADOPTION BY STEPPARENT

I blink, read it again, and then a third time to make sure my eyes aren’t deceiving me.

“You…you want me to adopt you?”I ask, my voice paper thin.

Bonnie tucks her hands behind her, cheeks reddening.“You have to marry my daddy first, but if that’s okay with you, yeah.I’d like you to be my mum for real.”

A wobbling laugh escapes me, disbelief and joy compounding inside me.“Of course, I will.Of course, I’ll…”

My eyes lift to meet Theo’s.Blue meeting my green, sky and land, making up an entire world for this little girl.

I sink to my knees and embrace her.“I’d like nothing more than to be your mother, Bonnie.”

I don’t care if she rumples my veil or gets tears on my dress.She’s not only the child of the man I love anymore, but she’s alsomychild.Or she will be once all is signed, sealed, and delivered.

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