“That little boy was so lost,” she whispers. “And now he has you.”
“I love him,” I croak. “I love all of you.”
She nods. “I know you do. And we all love you. That’s his way of telling you.”
“All these years, I never thought I’d be Dad to anyone.”
Emma shrugs. “Life has a way of surprising you.”
I pull her into my arms and kiss away her tears. “You are the greatest gift I could have ever received. My life was so empty, and I had no idea.”
“I feel the same way about you.” She smiles. “All I was hoping for was to unite you and Noah. But you brought me back to life.”
“I love you, Mrs Baxter.”
She chews her lower lip. “About that …”
“What?”
“I just got an email to confirm that the adoption is final. You’re the proud dad of four children. Now all with the surname Baxter.”
My heart.
“Really?” I choke out the words.
“You healed more than just me and Jason. You’re the father they all needed.”
This is perfect. It took six months to get Noah’s birth certificate changed through the courts. Once paternity was established, the process took a while, but we got there.
Now all the paperwork is done, and our little family is complete.
“Have you told them yet?”
Emma shakes her head. “No, I thought we could tell them together.”
She rounds up the troops and sends them to the living room where they sprawl in chairs, waiting for us.
“We need to talk to you. All of you,” Emma says.
Kiera rolls her eyes. “Are we in trouble?”
“Why? What have you done?” I narrow my eyes at her, and she smirks.
“Nothing.”
“It’s good news. I promise.” Emma grips my shoulder and smiles at me.
“Noah’s not here. Shouldn’t we wait for him?” Bailey asks.
Emma takes my hand and together we sit on the couch.
“This is about you three, not Noah.” Emma meets my gaze. “Do you want to tell them?”
My throat tightens. “Yes.”
She gives me another soft smile and squeezes my hand. “Go on.”
“Well …” I cast my gaze over my family. My children. “Your mother was notified today that the adoption is final. All three of you are mine now.”
