Page 163 of Love Notes & Lifelines
“No,” Leo corrects. “What you said was I could put in a door that separates our apartments.”
“Same thing,” she says with a shrug, then stops when we enter the kitchen.
Judge Montgomery stands in front of the open windows facing the ocean, and our Sailport Bay family is behind him waiting for us to make our way down to the beach.
To his left, Lucía stands hand in hand with Oliver Shines. A happy side product of their union is that Lucía has stayed part of our Sailport Bay family.
On the other side of the room, Teddy and Bella speak in hushed tones while she spins the new ring on her finger like she’s afraid she’ll lose it. Elijah and Samira stand next to them with the smiles of proud parents even though we’re the same age. Stella says it’s because they’re old souls.
Even Daisie sits like a lady with bows on her ears, but I still keep an eye on her—who knows when she’ll freak out.
This is the family we’ve built. This is the family that will fill this home with love for years to come and the emotion of it nearly knocks me over.
“Are we ready?” Judge Montgomery asks.
“Yes. Yes, we’re ready,” Emmy squeals, bouncing around the room.
Everyone laughs. There was a time when all this little girl knew was sadness, and this is something Stella and I have done too—we’ve given her a childhood she won’t have to forget to survive. If I accomplish nothing else in my life, this one thing will have made my life worth living.
Stella and I walk closer to the windows, and I hand Ruby over to Tabby. There’s not a dry eye in the room, and I bet if I looked outside where everyone is eavesdropping, there wouldn’t be one out there either.
I nod for the judge to begin.
“I’ve participated in a lot of gotcha days,” he begins. “But I don’t think any have ever been as special as this. Beck and Stella have gathered here today to unite four souls—Beck and Stella in marriage, and their adoption of Emmy and Ruby. That’s one heck of a gotcha day, if you ask me. And it’s one that will be celebrated by all for years to come.”
My gaze drifts to Stella, then to our girls, and I commit this moment to memory. I brand it on my heart.
This is the day I let go of old pain and open myself up to a future filled with love, loyalty, and a happily ever after.
Carolina Counting,BREAKING NEWS:
Caleb Fairfax avoids jail time by delivering details of the Delacroix’s dirty deeds: Will it be enough to avoid disbarment? Time will tell.
Danica Delacroix is sentenced to twenty years in a federal penitentiary. She’s currently in lockdown for assaulting an officer. Her attorney has no comment.
Chelsea Day School cleans house, hiring all new teachers and renaming the Dean’s building after Stella Hayes. The Anderson building boasts mental health care facilities specializing in abuse.
Silas Weaver is released for good behavior but will never work in education again. Our sources say he’s working the drive-through at a fast-food chain in the middle of Maine.
Carolina Counting’s favorite sweethearts, Becker Hayes and Stella Anderson, tie the knot in a secret ceremony. Keep reading for a glimpse into their special night.
