Page 91 of Mine to Keep

His father waved a folder and set it on the kitchen table. “That there, my friend, are the official adoption papers for Zadie.

“What about Mark and Barb?” Bryn asked with a shaky voice. “Can they contest the adoption?”

“They can ask to be heard,” his father said. “But no one will listen. Not only has Mark been charged with kidnapping and attempted murder, but a plethora of charges are being brought against them both for their businesses now, too.”

“But what you’re saying is they could always be part of our lives, and theycouldtry to stop this,” Jamison said. As much as he wanted to officially be Zadie’s dad, he knew, in his heart, that he’d always be the one who loved her the most. The one who would be there for every skinned knee. For every runny nose. Jamison would be the one who scared off all the wrong boys, and he’d be the one who walked her down the aisle—that was if she didn’t run off and elope, stealing that honor from him. Inwardly, he groaned.

Of course, he and Bryn wouldn’t have done a wedding anyway. They’d both done it before and weren’t interested in doing it again. They didn’t need the ceremony.

They only wanted the marriage.

The partnership.

“Let’s remember I generally defend people like Mark and Barb. If I were their attorney, I’d recommend that we do whatever it took to reduce the number of years they serve. And dealing with this”—he tapped the folder on the table—“would not be something I would want my clients focusing on. Still, the short answer is, yes. But from behind bars, there isn’t much they can do. And as parents, you’re going to want to do what’s best for your child, and that’s not bringing grandparents into the mix that have a criminal record, especially when it includes holding Zadie’s mother at gunpoint.” His father tilted his head. “You don’t have anything to worry about. And I’m sure the adoption will go through.” His father inched closer and pressed his hand on the center of Jamison’s chest. “But never forget. The parent-child bond starts here. Not with a piece of paper.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

His father smiled. “Don’t forget, Steve’s not a bad guy. And I, for one, am grateful that his biology made you.”

Jamison rolled his eyes. “You know, when you put shit that way, it’s kind of hard to keep pushing all of them away.”

His father chuckled. “Come on. Let’s get outside and enjoy this party.” His dad stepped through the sliding glass doors and moved back into the crowd of family.

“We might as well get this over with.” Bryn laced her fingers through his and tugged. “Zadie’s afternoon naps are only lasting about forty minutes lately, and with all these people, I doubt she’ll last even that long.”

“Let’s do this.” His entire family expected him to get on bended knee, declare his love, and ask Bryn to marry him. Well, he’d done that a week ago when he’d asked his father to draw up the adoption papers, and he and Bryn had filed for a marriage license. It wasn’t a great proposal. He hadn’t even bought a ring yet.

But it had been well thought out, and he knew without a doubt that Bryn and Zadie belonged in his life.

“Can I have everyone’s attention for a moment?” He stood by the pool with Bryn at his side.

She leaned into him, holding his forearm tightly, digging her fingernails into his skin.

Everyone they loved stared at them with bright smiles, clutching their drinks by their chests, waiting for the big moment.

He almost busted out laughing.

Boy, would they be surprised.

“Bryn and I have something to share with everyone.” He lifted her left hand.

She wiggled her fingers.

There was a collective gasp from the crowd.

“You already proposed?” his mother exclaimed. “When?”

“Last week,” he said.

“When do you plan on getting married?” Steve asked.

Bryn glanced up at him with a beaming smile. “Four days ago,” she said, taking his left hand and showing off his wedding band.

“Oh, my,” his mother said in a faint whisper.

Everyone shouted, “Congratulations,” and clapped.

Needing to get it all out there before their siblings stormed them with hugs, he raised his fingers to his mouth and whistled. It was the only way to shut the crowd up. “There’s more.”

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