Daniel looked from her to Sebastian, his blue eyes wide on his round face, his chin quivering. His entire body trembled, as it had been doing for the entire ride from London.
Sebastian made sure to smile, nodding his confirmation. He was not surprised by how nervous the poor boy was; it was just as he had expected. But that would soon fade, and any moment now he would finally accept the truth of what was happening.
“Here…” Sebastian shuffled toward the window and pulled back the curtain. Then, he looked out the window, finding in the distance his estate as it rose from the horizon.
Slowly, Daniel crawled to where Sebastian was sitting. And then, just as slowly, he dared to peer out the window. He saw the estate approach, and his eyes grew even wider, just as his mouth fell open.
Sebastian had never seen someone look so surprised before… and happy.
“Is that…” Daniel stammered. “That is… Is it your home?”
“It isyourhome,” Sebastian corrected him. “From now until forever, Daniel. I promise you.”
“But… it is so big.” Daniel gaped at him.
Helena laughed as she shuffled beside them. “It is, isn’t it? Entirely too big for just two people. But I feel that for the three of us, it will be perfect.”
“I don’t… But why?” Daniel tore his gaze from the window and looked at them both, his face scrunched up. “I don’t understand. Why me? Why are you… Why me?”
Sebastian looked at Helena, who beamed. He then took her hand, as he did Daniel’s. “Why not?” he said simply. “We love you, Daniel, and all we want is the best for you. What other reason could we possibly need?”
“So, this is…” Daniel swallowed. “This is real?”
“Of course it is,” Helena affirmed.
“And you won’t send me back?”
“Why would you think that?” Sebastian asked.
Daniel shrugged. “If I do something wrong. If I upset you…” He bowed his head. “I won’t mind if you do. Truly, I will understand.”
“Daniel…” Sebastian scooped him up and put him on his lap. “That’s not how this works. As far as I am concerned, you are my son, even if you upset me. Even if you make me so mad that I want to scream…” He made sure to laugh. “That will not change. This is your home now. We are your family. And nothing is going to change that.”
“We love you, Daniel.” Helena reached out and stroked the top of Daniel’s head. “I dare say that I love you even more than my husband.”
“Now, wait a minute!” Sebastian pretended to be upset.
Daniel giggled. “Really?”
“It is not so hard,” Helena said, winking at Sebastian. “You are rather adorable, while my husband is a big old grump.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes, but could not help smiling as Daniel went back to looking at the estate as it slowly drew closer. His eyes sparkled, and the smile he wore told Sebastian that finally, he was coming to accept this new reality.
He still couldn’t believe that this was happening.
It hadn’t been his intention. Initially, all Sebastian wanted was to establish the orphanage as an official state-sponsored institution. That would ensure constant funding. It would ensure that more children would be able to find safety and care within its walls. And it would ensure that even if Sebastian died tomorrow, there would always be a safe haven for abandoned children.
And he had done it too. His bill was passed. Funding was secured. What was more, Sebastian managed to gather enough support that two more orphanages across London were beingbuilt. Hundreds of children would be saved thanks to what he had done, and that was all he ever wanted.
Adopting Daniel had been Helena’s idea.
These last six months had seen her grow attached to the young boy beyond imagination. And with their marriage going well, with the bill being passed, and their future now to look forward to, Helena began to worry about what might happen if they did not have time to visit the orphanage every day.
What would Daniel think? Would he assume they abandoned him? Would he think that they had grown bored and left him like everyone else did?
No, that simply would not do. So, when she suggested adoption, Sebastian did not hesitate. He was in love with his wife; they had their whole future to look forward to, so why not start it with a family of their own?
“What do we do?” Daniel asked, still watching the estate.
