Page 69 of Cold as (N)ice

Elizabeth nodded at him and pushed the stop button on her device, gathering up her things as Barrett stood up. He was almost out of the room before he heard the attorney’s voice once more.

“I’m proud of you wanting to adopt Stephen. It shows that you care, want to take care of him, and that you are putting his care first.”

“He’s a great kid and already feels like my boy,” Barrett said proudly. “He’s a joy - both Irene and Stephen have changed my life. How could I not want him as my own?”

“It’s a good look and will help things in front of a judge, too,” Elizabeth replied, nodding. “Don’t worry about a thing. It will take me about a week to get everything prepared and filed, a week to serve him, and I can pull a few strings to get this through the courts quickly.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, go practice – and you all need to win the first game. I’m bringing my husband,” she smirked and shooed him off.

Barrett walked off, smiling, back toward the arena where they were practicing with almost a fervor of excitement. He couldn’t wait to see Irene and Stephen in the stands, wearing his name, and knew that all the ‘bumps’ along the way were finally smoothing out for their family.

Two weeks had passed, and Barrett could no longer keep his secret. It had been sitting in his chest, pressing against his ribs, swelling inside him until he felt like he might burst. He had wanted to wait for the right moment, to find the perfect time to tell them, but there was no perfect time for something like this. There was only now.

The kitchen was warm, filled with the quiet sounds of morning—spoons scraping against bowls, the clinking of glasses, the soft hum of the refrigerator.

Barrett stood at the counter, forcing down a smoothie packed with enough vitamins, minerals, and protein powder to fuel him through the game later that day. He grimaced as he swallowed, the thick, chalky mixture sticking to his throat like wet cement. Across from him, his untouched omelet sat on a plate, goldenand inviting. His stomach clenched. That omelet looked like heaven compared to the sludge in his cup.

His gaze flickered to Irene, who was gently stirring blueberries into her oatmeal, and then to Stephen, happily shoveling cereal into his mouth. He had no idea how this conversation would go, no clue if Irene would cry, if Stephen would understand the depth of what he was about to say—but he had to say it.

Barrett exhaled and set his smoothie down with a decisive thud.

“Can we talk?” he signed, his fingers moving fluidly, his voice steady despite the nervous energy buzzing in his veins.

Both of them looked up. Stephen paused mid-bite, milk dripping from his spoon, while Irene lifted her gaze, her brows knitting together in curiosity.

“I did something,” Barrett continued, rubbing the back of his neck, suddenly feeling awkward under their expectant stares. “And I need to run it past you…”

Irene’s expression shifted instantly, concern flashing in her eyes. “What’s wrong?” she asked softly.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Barrett reassured her quickly, as he continued to talk to Irene and sign to Stephen.“But I think you should know that when I spoke to the attorney about Eric—about Stephen’s father—”He glanced at Stephen, watching the boy’s eyes widen as he absorbed every sign with the intensity of a sponge soaking up water. Barrett took a steadying breath.“I also asked them to draw up papers so I could adopt Stephen. If that’s okay with the two of you.”

The room went silent. The kind of silence that felt thick, heavy, like the air had been sucked out of it.

Irene’s spoon slipped from her fingers, clattering into her bowl, splattering oatmeal against the rim. Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, wide withdisbelief. Stephen blinked at him, confusion knitting his small features.

But you’re already my dad—aren’t you?Stephen signed, his little hands moving quickly, earnestly.

Barrett swallowed hard, nodding without hesitation.I am.His throat tightened, but he pushed through.But this would make it legal, too. You would be Stephen Kanen Coeur. Your last name would become your middle name, and…

Yes!Stephen’s hands flew up in excited agreement before Barrett could even finish the thought.Yes! Yes! Yes!

A strangled sound slipped from Irene’s lips, something between a laugh and a sob. She stared at Barrett, her face a mixture of astonishment and raw emotion.

“Barrett,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, “are you sure?”

His chest ached at the look on her face—the way she was seeing him, really seeing him, like she had never expected this, but now that it was happening, she couldn’t fathom a world where it wasn’t. He swallowed past the lump in his throat, his gaze steady, unwavering.

“My name will already be on the birth certificate for our child,” he signed, his expression full of love and certainty. “Why not for both of them?”

Irene let out a shaky breath, pressing her fingers to her lips, her emotions barely contained.

“You want to adopt Stephen?” she asked like she needed to hear it out loud like she needed to make sure she wasn’t dreaming this moment.

Barrett’s lips curved into a soft, almost reverent smile. “I love him,” he said simply. “And he’s mine. I want him to know how much I care, and I can’t think of a better way than giving him my name—just like I gave it to you.” His eyes flickered to Irene, his voice thick with feeling. “I love seeing my name on you. Everytime I hear it or see it written down, it does something to me. I want that to be something Stephen wears proudly, too. Because it’s who he is. Because he’sours.”

Stephen turned to Irene, bouncing in his chair, his face lit up like Christmas morning.Mommy, is that okay? Can I change my name to Coeur?

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