Page 87 of Off Limits Daddy

He nodded, his grip on my hand tightening. "Yeah, Daddy. Are you and Mommy ready?"

Whenever he called us Mommy and Daddy, I felt it to the bottom of my heart. It was just a name, a term, and yet the weight of it, the joy of it, awed me.

“I’ve been ready since day one.” I winked at him.

Veronica nodded. “I’m past ready.”

A door opened and a woman in a dark robe entered. She looked at us and smiled. “I love adoption days.”

I wouldn’t say it put my nerves to rest, but it eased them some. Veronica squeezed my hand and smiled at me.

The judge began speaking, her voice kind as she spoke of responsibilities and privileges—of love and protection that came with adoption. We nodded and affirmed our commitment to Aiden, my voice choking up.

“I’ve been fortunate in my life to have wonderful friends and a successful business. But nothing has brought me more joy than family. I’ve wanted to be Aiden’s father since the moment I met him. That has never wavered.”

“I’m aware of everything that went on at the beginning of the year. There’s no doubt that you, the both of you, will risk everything, including your lives, for this young man.” She turned her attention to Aiden. “What do you think? These two want to adopt you. Do you know what that means?”

Aiden tensed but nodded.

“It means they want to be your mom and dad.”

“They’re already my mom and dad.” He looked up at me. “Right?”

I nodded. “In here, buddy.” I covered my heart with my hand. “You’re ours, and we’re yours forever.”

The judge smiled as she pulled out a pen. “I love adoption days.” She signed her name to the document. “Congratulations. You’re now legally a family. Aiden is now Aiden Brennan Ashworth. You just need to file this with the clerk. You’ll be able to order a new birth certificate as well.”

Oh, my God. I looked at Veronica and then at Aiden. Was this real? I picked him up and spun him around, then hugged him.

He laughed. “Daddy!”

I wrapped my arm around Veronica. “This is the happiest day of my life.”

Her green eyes watered. “Me too.”

As we walked down the courthouse steps later—papers signed and hearts full—I knew that every hardship leading up to this moment, the struggles and fears, getting shot, had been worth it.

Aiden skipped between us, swinging our hands as we stepped into the warm sunlight of the June afternoon.

“What do you say, Aiden Ashworth? Should we go home?”

He nodded, sporting a happy grin.

I helped Veronica into the SUV and checked to make sure Aiden was strapped in the back.

"Let's go celebrate," I said as I drove us home.

We walked into the home, making our way toward the living room.

“Yay! Congratulations!” The crowd in the living room cheered, tossing confetti and blowing party horns.

Aiden stopped, his eyes wide and his mouth round at the surprise party in his honor. Georgie, one of Oliver and Lindsay’s girls, ran forward and threw her arms around him. “Happy adoption day.”

The other girls and Grayson joined him. Aiden’s smile was wide. I felt like I could see the last bits of the broken part of him mending.

“We’ve got some fun activities,” Miranda said. “I’ve set them up in the kitchen. Want to see?”

“Yay!” All the kids cheered.

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