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A petition for adoption was within, only missing signatures.
“Oh...” Katrina’s mother breathed as Katrina sniffled, her tears flowing freely.
“What do you say?” Miranda asked, her eyes so hopeful.
So like her father’s.
“I say hell yes,” Katrina replied, and the papers began to be passed around as Katrina held Miranda close to her.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Katrina’s father commented, but the rest of the chatter fell away. Lorenzo had joined Katrina and Miranda’s embrace, holding them close to him, leaving kisses on top of both of their heads.
“This is the best birthday present.” Katrina’s voice was choked with emotion.
“This calls for cake,” Justin’s voice rose above the others.
“Just a minute,” Lorenzo said as he stepped back, and Miranda left Katrina’s embrace to be pulled into a hug by Katrina’s mother.
“What are you doing?” Katrina asked.
“Dude, all of you said no presents,” Justin continued. “I’m feeling like a total douche.”
“Well,” Martin drew out, “if the shoe fits.”
“Hey, now. Only I can speak to my husband that way.”
Again, the chatter fell away as Katrina’s attention was drawn to Lorenzo, who approached her with a large gift bag. “What’s this?” she asked, and he grinned down at her.
“Open it.”
Katrina took the bag from him and pulled out the tissue paper, gasping as she saw the contents within.
A leather jacket.
Theleather jacket, the one she’d worn for most of her time in high school.
“I kept it, even after it didn’t fit anymore,” Lorenzo said, his voice low, meant only for her.
“Is that what I think it is?” Katrina’s mother asked as she pulled the jacket out of the bag. “I was so worried when she came home wearing that, you know. Well, until I met you, Lorenzo.”
Katrina slipped the jacket on, smiling at its too-big, but endearingly familiar, fit. She reached up and left a soft kiss on his lips. “It’s perfect,” she whispered to him, and his grin widened.
“Check the pockets.”
“What’s in...” Her voice trailed off as she pulled out the treasure.
The ribbons he’d taken from her hair the day they’d met.
“I kept those with me, always,” he said as he gently pushed her hair back. “I held onto them in my darkest moments, knowing...always knowing that someday you’d be in my life again.” His kiss was long, deep. “I love you, Trina.”
“And I love you, Ren.” She stepped back with a shy smile.
“What?” he asked. “That’s a something face right there.”
“Just a sec,” she said, excusing herself from the living room full of those she loved. She retreated to the bedroom and opened her closet, reaching up for the small bag with tissue paper. As she made her way back out to the living room, the chatter becoming louder, her heart began to pound.
She hadn’t planned on giving this to him today.
But the timing...it was right.
