by Lindsey Gray
Leaning back, she kissed his neck.
He kissed the top of her head as he stood up. “Black silk one, right?”
“Right.” He made his way back over to the closet as Lucy saved her review and e-mailed it to her editor.
“Lucy, I’m so sorry.” Chloe held their little boy in her arms. He seemed to be covered in some sort of jam. “He got it out of one of the bottom cabinets. I guess the baby lock doesn’t work on that one.”
“Aiden Jackson O’Malley, you know better.”
Chloe set him down and he ran over to his mother. Lucy realized it was a good thing she hadn’t changed yet, because she was covered with jam after the hug her eighteen-month-old son gave her.
“Who’s Mommy’s sticky boy?”
His cheeks blushed pink. “Me.”
“That’s right. It’s okay. We’ll get you cleaned up.” Lucy turned to Chloe. “Thanks. I’m sure it could have been a lot worse.”
“No problem.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Guess it comes with the aunt territory.”
“Yep, good old Auntie Chloe.” Lucy’s sticky son turned and blew Chloe a kiss as she left the room.
She grabbed a few baby wipes and started to get off the big chunks that were there before taking him for a bath. She was amazed at how he was the right combination of herself and Finn. Finn’s sparkling blue eyes. Her auburn hair. Finn’s long, slender fingers. Her little nose. She loved just looking at him, getting lost in his cherubic good looks.
“AJ, what have you gotten yourself into?” Finn walked out of the closet, fully dressed in his best black suit and Lucy’s favorite silk tie.
“Dada!” AJ held his arms up to Finn.
“Oh, no.” Lucy picked up AJ and held him close. “He got into some of the jam which has earned him a trip to the tub.”
“Oh.” Finn nodded. “You just wanted some more time to play tug boat, didn’t you?”
“Hoo, hoo!” They laughed when AJ made his tugboat noise.
“Come back in about ten minutes and help me get him dressed.”
“Alright. I’ll go make sure the kitchen isn’t covered in jam.”
AJ and Lucy went into the bathroom as Finn disappeared downstairs.
The whole family stood in the courtroom as the judge went through his list of questions for Murphy and Claire. After six long years, Chloe and Olivia were about to become a permanent part of the family. The adoption process was halted at every stage by Viktor and Camille’s lawyer. It took about four years longer than it should have, but eventually, the O’Malley’s won.
The court saw what a wonderful home they had made for the girls and how the large unconventional family worked well for their upbringing.
“Chloe?”
“Yes, Your Honor?” Chloe was always so respectful and polite, just like Claire.
“You and your sister have spent a long time with the O’Malley’s. It seems by this letter you have written me that you are very much ready to join their family permanently. Can you tell us why?”
Chloe cleared her throat as she held Olivia’s hand. “I don’t remember much about my biological parents, but I do remember what they did to me and why we came to the O’Malley’s in the first place. I know this family suffered so much because of what they did. They could have handed Olivia and I over to the state and not thought another second about it. Instead, they took us in and made us a part of their family. Even though I’m sure we serve as a reminder of what our parents did, they have loved us and cared for us as if we were their own blood. They had a choice and they chose to love us. Olivia and I love them. They are our family.
“Murphy is the dad who cleans all our cuts and tucks us into bed at night. Claire is the mom who always has cookies waiting for us when we come home from school and holds us when we have our nightmares. Finn is the brother who has taught us to love without judgment and live each day to the fullest. Lucy is the sister who has given us an appreciation for all things beautiful about the world. Rylan is the sister who has taught us how to have fun and enjoy everything life hands us. Jack is our big teddy bear who has shown us what it means to be a team player and trust in those around you. Lane is the uncle who teaches us how to appreciate knowledge and throw a mean curve ball.
“Then there’s little AJ. I never really thought of being a role model to anyone but Olivia. I see how he watches us and tries to be like us. That makes me want to be a better person. All of them make us want to be just like them. We want to be O’Malleys officially, for in our hearts, we have been for the past six years.”
The tears freely flowed from almost all of them by then. Jack even tried to hold back, but when Chloe turned around and gave him a wink, he lost it.
“That’s a very impassioned speech from such a young lady.” The judge pulled out his own handkerchief and wiped his cheeks. “On behalf of the county and the state, I would like to apologize for not doing this years ago like it should have been. Now from this day forward, you”—Chloe came forward—”will be known as Chloe Elizabeth O’Malley.” Olivia stood at her sister’s side. “And you, my dear, will be Olivia Lynn O’Malley from this day forward the legal daughters of Dr. Murphy and Mrs. Claire O’Malley.”
Claire and Murphy stepped over to the judge and signed the papers. Aiden took pictures of the four of them with the judge as they all continued to cry.
Lucy could tell AJ really didn’t understand what was going on. She just kissed him on the nose. “We’re happy for Auntie Chloe and Auntie Olivia. We’re all a family now.”
Finn’s arms surrounded the both of them. “One big happy family.”
She saw that familiar sparkle in his eyes as her lips found his. She whispered against them, “Forever and always.”
Table of Contents
Cover
Title
Copyright
About the Author
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6 and 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24