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“Yes.”
Jess looks like she’s about to throw up from nerves, so I decide to rip the Band-Aid off.
“Buddy, can we talk to you about something serious for a minute?”
His breath hitches, and I immediately know he’s thinking the worst. Brandon takes this as his cue and leaves. “It’s nothing bad, I promise.”
I take his hand and lead him over to a bench under a tree. Jess sits down and shoves her hands in between her knees. “You know how Jess and I have been coming here to see you every few months?”
His eyes are wide, and he just nods his head.
“And how we Skype you every day after school?”
He nods again.
I think about how I’m going to word the next sentence. Saying we don’t want to do that anymore is only going to put the fear of God in him.
“We wanted to know if you’d like to come live with us in the US. It means you’d have to change schools and leave all your friends behind, but…” I clear the lump from my throat. “We love you, and when we aren’t with you, we miss you too much. We wondered if you’d like to come live with us permanently. We want to adopt you.”
He doesn’t say anything for the longest time, and then he launches himself into Jess’s arms.
“Do you mean it? You love me?”
“With all our hearts.” Jess chokes out the words.
I take Israel from Jess, and he clings to me. “I love you, buddy. I think I’ve loved you since the day you taught me how to knit. Since before then, even.”
“So, what do you say?” Jess looks so hopeful that I think if Israel says no, it will kill her.
“Does that mean I call you Mom and Dad?”
Jess shakes her head. “Only if that makes you comfortable.”
He looks shyly at us. “I’d like to call you Mom and Dad.”
Jess sobs and rips Israel from my arms and crushes him to her.
“Dad, help!” He wheezes and shoots me a grin.
I fucking lose it right there and then, the tears rolling down my face.
Brandon leans out the window. “Can we come out now?”
“Yes,” Jess laughs.
Kids and staff all peel out of the house. I see Brandon and his fiancé, Alison, along with Kevin and Claire. Claire is sobbing so hard I’m worried about her. “Are you okay?”
“Just happy.”
Israel runs inside. “I’ll be right back.”
When he’s gone for fifteen minutes, I almost wonder if he’s changed his mind. Jess and I shoot each other a look, but then he comes running out, a multicolored scarf trailing behind him. He goes to Brandon and hands over the scarf.
“I made this for you. Thank you for taking care of me. I want you to have this.” Then he hands over the yarn and needles. “I don’t need this anymore. I’m not sad anymore.”
Brandon scruffs a hand over Israel’s hair. “This is the best gift I’ve ever had.”
I feel like I’m gonna lose it again, so I scoop Israel up and put him on my shoulders. “What do you say we get out of here and make it official?”
“I say Oorah!”
The End
