Page 55 of Intertwined Hearts

“Be quiet. You cry too much,” Abby said. Before Nikki or Jeff had a chance to say anything, she dropped the toys behind him. He turned and quickly gathered them in his little hands. I smiled at the typical older sister behavior.

“Abby, was that nice?” Nikki asked.

“No, Mommy,” she said. Abby looked at Jeff’s scowling face. When she smiled at him, he smiled right back. She had him wrapped around her little finger.

“Hunter and Jackie?” our case worker said. We both turned to the doorway, where she was standing holding the tiny hand of our new addition.

My eyes teared up. I wanted to hold this precious little girl tight and never let her go. My heart felt like it was going to explode. I squeezed Hunter’s hand, then couldn’t hold back the waterworks. I couldn’t move. I was immobilized by the overwhelming emotions.

Hunter let go of my hand and held his arms out to Elisa. “Are you ready to go home?” he asked her.

“Yeah!” she screamed. She pulled her little hand loose from the case worker and ran into his arms.

Hunter

When those little arms tried to wrap around me, any last vestige of doubt that something could go wrong vanished. This was my little girl. She was mine. DNA or not, she was always going to be my little girl. I was meant to be her father. I loved her so much, and I was looking forward to my improved life with her in it.

Jackie could barely get the words out through her sobs, but somehow managed to squeak out a hello to her daughter and gave her a hug. Elisa wrapped her little arms around Jackie’s neck and kissed her cheek. I held them both tight to me. This was my family. My girls. I lifted my eyes and looked at Jeff through my blurred vision. He smiled at me, and my tears tumbled down my cheeks without warning. It was at that moment that I knew how empty my life had been without them both in it. I tilted my head and kissed each of them. They were the most precious and important people in my life.

Nikki took a couple of pictures. As much as I kind of wished I wasn’t a tearful mess, I really didn’t care. I was the happiest I had ever been. I had what I always wanted. I had my family.

“Hi, baby,” Abby said.

“Hi,” Elisa whispered. She buried her head in my chest.

Abby stroked down Elisa’s hair and arm. “She’s soft, and pretty.”

“Pretty like you, Abby,” Jackie said.

Elisa turned her head and smiled at Abby, then buried her head in my chest again. I loved this little girl. I kissed her head again, then wrapped my arm around Jackie and pulled her in close to me.

“Congratulations, you guys,” Nikki said. I looked up and saw her wipe away tears from her face. “I said I wasn’t going to cry.”

“Yeah, right,” Jeff said. “That’ll be the day.”

We all laughed. Nikki and Jackie were both very emotional. The thought of Nikki not crying was hilarious.

The case worker cleared her throat. “Can we get a picture of the happy family to add to our album?”

“Absolutely,” I said.

We took a few pictures for the home, then Nikki took a few more on her phone and Jackie’s. Jeff, Nikki, and their family left, then we finished up the process with the case worker, including making the first home visit appointment, then we left to go home.

Our home. I drove the distance with a huge grin plastered on my face. No matter how hard I tried not to smile, I couldn’t stop myself.

I pulled the truck into the driveway and helped my wife and daughter out, then we made our way inside. My mom and dad met us in the entryway and the emotions were almost too much to bear. Jackie was holding Elisa in her arms.

“Mom, Dad, this is your granddaughter, Elisa.”

I’d never seen tears in my dad’s eyes until that moment, and I couldn’t hold my own back any longer. My mom wiped and dabbed at her own eyes with her handkerchief.

“Hi, Elisa,” my mom said.

My dad stood there shaking his head, and his arm was wrapped around my mom.

“Hi, beautiful little girl,” he choked out through his tears.

Elisa smiled at both of them and then buried her head against Jackie’s shoulder.

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