“But now you call me daddy.”
Her eyes fill completely.
“And if you will let me,piccola, I would like to be that forever. Not only in this house. Not only in my heart. In every way the law allows.” My voice roughens. “May I adopt you?”
Olivia stares at me, and then her whole face crumples.
“You mean I get to be yours for real? A real Moretti?”
I grip her hand tighter.
“You’ve been mine for a long time, baby. I’m asking if you will let me make it official.”
She looks at Amelia, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Mama?”
Amelia is crying too, one hand pressed to her mouth.
“It’s your choice, baby.”
Olivia turns back to me.
Her little shoulders straighten.
My brave girl.
“Yes,” she whispers.
The room exhales.
Then she throws her good arm around my neck.
“Yes, Daddy. You can adopt me.”
I catch her carefully and close my eyes as she clings to me.
There are moments in a man’s life that remake him.
This is one of mine.
I thought I knew what it meant to receive mercy.
I did not.
Not until a stubborn and brave woman agreed to marry me and her little girl with a broken arm and a pink cast wrapped herself around my neck and gave me permission to be her father.
I press my mouth to her hair.
“Thank you,piccola.”
She sniffles against me.
“Do I get to be Olivia Moretti?”
I pull back enough to look at her.
“If that’s what you want.”
