Paige smiled. “The feelings are definitely mutual.” They kissed again, then embraced.
Val wanted to share how she was truly feeling, but her anxiety was getting in the way. Finally, she won the battle. “Paige, I need to say something, and I hope you don’t freak out.”
Paige frowned at her. “Way to go—now I’m expecting to freak out.”
“Hope not.” Val held both of her hands and looked down at them as she spoke. “It’s just…having all of us here together, it feels right. We’ve all taken so many chances to get to this point, but it was worth it. I feel like I have a family.”
Paige didn’t respond, and Val glanced up to find tears coursing down Paige’s cheeks. Val’s stomach clenched. “Did I upset you?”
Paige smiled and wrapped her arms around Val’s neck. “No, baby. There is nothing I’d like more than making a family with you. I just needed you to be ready.”
Val pressed her lips to Paige’s, trying to convey everything she felt. “I’m ready. I love you.”
Paige smile spoke right to Val’s heart. “I love you, too.”
They held each other, simply staying in the moment and basking in their love.
* * *
The giggles from down the hall grew louder as the girls came from the bedroom into the living room.
Paige looked at Val. “Wanna tell them?”
Val got a sudden case of nerves, but Paige just rubbed her back, calming her.
“So, listen, you guys,” Val began, “how would you feel if we all spent a lot more time together?”
Lily tilted her head. “You mean like best friends?”
“Even better than that,” Val replied, smiling at Paige.
“I told you, Lily. They love each other,” Emma exclaimed, grinning widely.
“Does this mean we can all stay together?” Lily asked.
Val nodded, knowing in her heart that everything would work out, that this was meant to be.
“That means we can be sisters and best friends,” Emma said, high-fiving Lily.
Ian poked his head between the two girls and looked at Val. “We’re a family, Mama?”
Val looked at Paige and saw her future clearly. “Yeah, buddy, we are.”
A huge grin spread across his face and he threw both hands in the air. “Yay!”
Epilogue
Eight months later
“Mama, can you put this thing on me?” Ian held up his blue plaid bow tie.
“Sure, buddy. Come here.” Val clipped the tie onto his white shirt collar, then tucked the shirttail into his navy blue pants. Holding him by the shoulders at arm’s length, she looked at her boy. “You are a very handsome little man, Ian.”
Ian blushed and smiled. “Stop it, Mama.”
“Well, it’s true. Are your sisters ready?”
“Probably not. They take forever.”
Paige came into the room, looking gorgeous in the new floral print dress that she’d bought for the occasion. “They’re braiding each other’s hair. They’re almost done.” She walked over to Val and looked her up and down. “You look great, babe.”
Val had also purchased a new outfit for today, to match Ian. She wore a dressy white peasant blouse embroidered in a blue and green floral pattern, and loose navy blue linen slacks. “Thanks. So do you.”
The girls came out in their matching pink flowered dresses, their hair in neat French braids. “We’re ready,” Lily said.
“Did everybody brush their teeth?” Val asked. Three little heads nodded. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”
They headed downtown for their nine a.m. appointment. Val felt almost giddy with excitement, but Paige was holding her hand, caressing gently, grounding her. She parked in the city lot, and they all walked across the street. There, on the courthouse steps, stood Sasha, Jen, Connie, Joe, and Charlie, all smiling broadly.
Val’s heart was full. “Hi, everyone. Thanks for coming.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It’s a very important day, right, Ian?” Sasha said, ruffling his hair. He nodded, smiling shyly.
“Well, don’t you girls look pretty,” Connie said to Lily and Emma.
“Thank you,” they replied in unison, grinning at each other.
“We’d better go in. Judge Foster is waiting,” Paige said.
In the courtroom, Val and Paige sat at an attorney’s table with Lily and Ian while the others took seats in the gallery. Val looked around, still in awe at the turn her life had taken. She had last been here four months ago, when Paige had become her wife. Now, in the eyes of the law, they would finally all be a family.
“All rise,” the clerk said, and they stood as Judge Foster entered the chambers. He was generally an imposing, no-nonsense man, but today he had a kind grandfatherly air about him.
“Please be seated.” He made a show of shuffling papers as the kids looked on, wide-eyed. “Now, let’s see. I believe there are two children here that I’d like to meet. Lily and Ian, please approach the bench.”
Val nudged them forward, and Lily took Ian’s hand as they walked up to the judge.
“I understand that you two are ready to become part of your forever family, is that right?” The children nodded solemnly. “Well, I’ve reviewed the case and am in full agreement that we should make that happen right this minute,” Judge Foster said. “Come here, children. I have important documents to show you.”
Lily and Ian walked up the step and around the judge’s bench to stand beside him. Paige and Sasha began taking pictures of the children looking so adorably serious.
“See these papers?” the judge said. “These are legal documents. They say that you will be known from this moment forward as Lily and Ian Wellington-Cruz, because your moms love you and want you to be their forever children. Ian, take this little hammer here.” Judge Foster handed Ian the gavel. “On the count of three, I want you to use that hammer to hit this wooden circle right here.”
Ian held the gavel with both hands, looking at the judge expectantly.
“Okay, everyone, let’s count.”
All in attendance chanted, “One, two, three!” and Ian swung the gavel as hard as he could, making a resounding thwack that echoed in the courtroom. Everyone laughed, and Ian grinned widely.
The judge stood and put his hands on Lily’s and Ian’s shoulders. “By the powers vested in me by the State of New York, I hereby declare that Lily and Ian are officially adopted.” He reached beneath his bench and pulled out two white teddy bears for the children. Lily and Ian hugged their adoption bears tightly, and everyone cheered.
The next few minutes were a flurry of hugs and picture-taking, but finally, Val stood with Paige and the three children in a group hug. Val kissed Paige, then touched her lips to the top of each child’s head.
“I love you guys with all my heart,” she said. The girls squeezed tighter, and Ian’s muffled voice rose from the center.
“Love you, too!”
* * *
Paige gently played with Val’s hair as she lay with her head pillowed on Paige’s breast. Tears came to her eyes as she relived how exquisite and deeply emotional their earlier lovemaking had been. Paige had never connected so completely with another person in her entire life, and the feelings coursing through her were overwhelming, but in a good way.
Val lifted her head and looked up at her. “Baby, what’s wrong? You’re trembling.”
Paige laid her hand on Val’s cheek and smiled. “Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking about how blessed I am that everything is so right.”
Val moved up and kissed Paige slowly and tenderly, her own tears mingling with Paige’s. When they parted, Val placed her hand over Paige’s heart.
“I never in my life thought this could happen to me. In fact, I spent a lot of time and effort ensuring it wouldn’t.” Val smiled and shook her head. “But you—kind, giving, wonderful you—taught me how to love again. You and the kids have given me a family, and I swear to you that I will do everything I
can to protect that for the rest of my life.”
Paige’s tears flowed freely now as her heart surged with love for Val. “You’re incredible. You just put everything I’ve been thinking and feeling into the perfect words. How do you do that?”
Val grinned. “What can I say? I’ve got it going on.”
“Oh, I can attest to that.” Paige laughed and pulled Val close. She held her, stroking her hair for several long moments, adrift in bliss.
“Paige?”
“Hmm?”
“Does the county keep records of past foster placements and adoptions?”
“I believe so, but I’d have to ask Connie what’s kept and for how long. Why?”
Val didn’t answer right away, and Paige waited, caressing the bare skin of her shoulder and giving her time to gather her thoughts.
“I think,” Val said quietly, “I’d like to try and find Enrique.”
“Wow, sweetie,” Paige said, surprised. “That’s huge. So you’re hoping the county has a record of him?”
“Yeah. I mean, all I know is that he supposedly went to live with his father somewhere out West. I don’t know if he still has my last name or not, and I feel like I’d be looking for a needle in a haystack.”
Val took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Paige knew that this was a giant risk for Val to take after all she’d been through, and Paige was amazed at her courage.
As if reading Paige’s mind, Val said, “I know trying to find him could be a total bust, but for so many years I’ve wondered if he’s okay. I want to know if he graduated from high school, if he’s happy, how tall he’s grown. Ian is the same age my brother was the last time I saw him. Now Enrique is twenty-five years old—I’ve missed so much.”
Val sniffed, and Paige gave her a squeeze. “Whatever you need, I’ll help, okay?”
Val sat up and looked into Paige’s eyes. “Thank you. Because of you, I’m ready. I already feel like I have the perfect sundae—Enrique would just be an extra cherry on top.”
Paige laughed through a fresh flow of tears. “Great. Not only have you made me cry again, but now I want ice cream.”
Val grinned. “That could be arranged.”
“It’s two o’clock in the morning, you goof.”
“True. Is there perhaps something else I could do to satisfy your craving?” Val said, touching a fingertip to Paige’s bottom lip.
“Hmm, let me see,” Paige replied, feeling her body ignite. She put her hands on Val’s shoulders and pushed her onto her back, then lowered her body until they were breast to breast. The love and trust she saw in Val’s eyes made her heart sing. “Thanks for taking a chance on me,” Paige whispered.
“Hey, I think that’s my line,” Val said with a smile. She pulled Paige down for a kiss that felt like a thousand promises. “My beautiful woman, I love you.”
Paige felt like she might explode with joy. “Oh, baby, I love you, too.”
About the Author
Erin McKenzie has been a lover of words since she first learned her ABCs, sparking a lifelong passion for reading, writing, and of course, word games! She is a professional school counselor, mom to her three young children, partner to her wife of seventeen years, chief dishwasher and laundry folder, soccer mom and homework checker. She and her family live in the Finger Lakes region of New York State and share their home with several furry friends.
Taking Chances is Erin’s second novel and features a topic that is near and dear to her family’s heart. She hopes you enjoy the story!
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