by Jenny Frame
Wendy turned to her, smiling. “We could be cooking?”
“Well, you, but I’m willing to start learning. I just didn’t want it to seem as if it would be your job.”
“This is so perfect,” Wendy said. “I just can’t…It’s overwhelming.”
Trent took her hand and said, “Let’s look at the bedrooms. I think Alice and Noah will be really comfortable here.”
Wendy followed Trent up two sets of stairs. This place was huge. Wendy loved it and what Trent had planned for them, but moving here, making this her home, would change the dynamic of their relationship. Things couldn’t stay the same.
They looked around what would be the children’s rooms, and then Trent led her to the master bedroom. It was sumptuous and big, more than enough room for the super king size bed the sellers had set it out with, with walk-in dressing rooms and an en suite bathroom.
Wendy walked over to the window and looked out over the gardens.
“So can you see yourself living here?” Trent asked.
She turned back to Trent and said, “You do know how expensive this area of London is.”
“Very aware, but what does that matter if we make this our forever family home? Alice and Noah are always talking about a forever home, and I thought this place was right for it.”
“Things will need to change,” Wendy said.
“I know. I want you to marry me, everything that goes with a forever home.”
Wendy thought about all the implications, what Kira and her friends would say. It was a lot to consider, but she knew what her heart wanted.
“If we’re going to do this, I have to quit my job. I can’t be your employee. We can’t start out our life together as employer and employee.”
“Whatever you need to do.”
Wendy smiled and wrapped her arms around Trent’s neck. “I do.”
Trent let out a sigh of relief. “You could have anyone, you know. Are you sure you want to hitch your wagon to a forty-year-old divorce lawyer?”
Wendy leaned in close to her lips and said, “You’re forgetting I’ve got a thing for older women.”
Epilogue
The normally serious London courtroom was alive with laughter and excitement. After getting married and moving into their new home a few months ago, Trent and Wendy were in front of a judge, finalizing the adoption of Alice and Noah. Although both still had their moments of grief and trauma, Alice in particular, they had settled in at their new school and were happy.
This was the day they had been looking forward to, even more than the wedding of their two new parents, because today meant they had found their forever home officially.
Trent and Wendy were about to sign the adoption papers at a table in front of the judge, and behind them sat their family and friends. Becca, Dale, Sammy, Val, and Kira, who had slowly come around to the fact that her friend loved the ruthless divorce lawyer Davina Trent.
Trent had Alice next to her and Noah was sitting on Wendy’s knee. Trent signed and passed the paper to Wendy, who looked at her and smiled. “Are you ready for this, Peter?”
“I never would have been without you,” Trent said.
Wendy signed and their lawyer took it up to the judge to do her part. Judge Castillo was an old work acquaintance of Trent’s, and she was happy to have someone she knew in charge on this special day.
The judge looked up from the bench and said, “Alice? Noah? Come on up here.”
Alice looked at Trent nervously. “Go on. The judge wants to see you.”
She took Noah’s hand and walked up behind the judge’s bench.
“Come closer,” Judge Castillo said. She opened up her arms and each child sat on a knee. “When I sign here, it’ll make Trent and Wendy your mums. Will that make you happy?”
“Yes, yes,” Noah said, bouncing excitedly.
Trent thought it was so nice that she was taking the time to make this a special day for Alice and Noah.
She glanced to the side and saw her boho hipster girl with braids, who she loved so much, beaming up at the children. To outsiders they looked like an odd couple—she in her sharp, boring suits, and Wendy in her short flowery sundress, with her three ringed necklace representing their family, and her leather wrist straps and bangles—but they worked. So well, that their first few months of marriage had been perfect.
Trent took Wendy’s hand and rubbed her thumb over Wendy’s engagement and wedding rings. It always filled her heart with happiness to see them there. She looked down at her own hand, with its wedding band.
This was a life she’d never imagined, and that made it all the more exciting because she had no idea what was coming next. Yes, life was going to be an adventure now that she had someone to love.
Trent turned back and saw Becca sitting behind them holding a wriggling Gracie. Things had changed and moved forward so much, and now Becca wasn’t the woman she’d let slip through her fingers. She was family.
Becca smiled and gave her a wink. It was an amazing comfort to have that feeling of family support behind her. It was strange because neither she, Wendy, Becca, or Dale had blood relations as part of their lives, but they had forged this family of choice that was so much more secure. She hoped both her mother and David were looking down on them with happy smiles.
Trent felt a nudge from Wendy. “She’s signed it. We’re a family.”
Wendy grasped her face and kissed it. “We did it.”
“Come on up and join us,” Judge Castillo said.
She and Wendy walked up and joined the judge, Alice, and Noah.
“We’re a family,” Alice said.
Trent hugged and kissed them both. “A forever family.”
“I’m really yours?” Noah asked.
“Yes, forever,” Wendy said.
“Let’s get some pictures of this happy moment.” The judge waved up Becca.
Becca gave Gracie to Dale and picked up her camera. She got in position, and Wendy and Trent stood on either side of the judge. The children stood in front holding the adoption certificate.
“Say cheese,” Becca said.
“Cheese!” they all replied.
Once Becca had taken a few pictures, she said to the judge, “Can I get a few family shots?”
“Of course. The more the merrier. Up you all come.”
Dale, Jake, Gracie, Sammy, Val, and Mia all made their way to the judge’s bench.
While Becca was getting everyone in position, Wendy said to Trent, “Are you happy?”
Trent turned to her and looked deeply into her eyes. “Happy, proud, lucky. How will you feel when we come to your graduation in a few months as a family?”
Wendy had completed her teaching degree and would hopefully be starting work in a school shortly thereafter. She also had some publishers interested in her children’s book series, Travels with My Teddy.
Trent was proud of Wendy. She had juggled study and writing with looking after the kids and preparing for the wedding. Trent thought she was a superwoman.
“I’ll feel like I’ve finally become who I was meant to be,” Wendy said. “This is all I’ve ever wanted. To be married with children and have a happy secure home. You’ve given it to me.”
Trent shook her head and kissed her softly. “We gave it to each other. I love you to Neverland and back, Wendy.”
Wendy smiled sweetly. “I love you too, Peter.”
Dale interrupted them. “Save those kisses for later, Trent. My missus is ready to take the picture.”
Becca had the camera set up on a tripod. She set the delay and came hurrying over to join the picture.
Their family pictures were getting larger, and that was just perfect, because everyone needed someone to love.
“Say cheese!”
“Cheese!”
About the Author
Jenny Frame is from the small town of Motherwell in Scotland, where she lives with her partner, Lou, and their well-loved and very spoiled dog.
She has a dive
rse range of qualifications, including a BA in public management and a diploma in acting and performance. Nowadays, she likes to put her creative energies into writing rather than treading the boards.
When not writing or reading, Jenny loves cheering on her local football team, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Jenny can be contacted at www.jennyframe.com.
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