AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah. My question exactly.” Teddy scowled. “Too many surprises for one day. I can’t handle any more. I just learned that your crazy-ass, mega-rich, very handsome husband just invited us to live with you for all of eternity. I’m gonna need a minute.”
“You’re such a drama queen.” Ayla giggled.
“Drama king, I’ll have you know.” Teddy tickled her as she spread the paperwork on the recycled jarrah wood dining table. “What’s this?” he asked suspiciously.
“Read it and find out,” Neri said, pulling me closer to the table, the click of my blade loud on the concrete. I no longer needed a cane at all, but I preferred the blade rather than a metal limb; I found it far easier to run on.
Billy and Honey gathered closer, and Eddie read over Teddy’s shoulder. Ayla buzzed with energy, watching all of us, waiting for the explosion.
It didn’t take long.
Just a skim of a document they already recognised.
A crumpling of faces.
A gasp of hearts.
“Well, fuck.” Teddy let out a puff of air.
Eddie choked on a sob.
And both men grabbed my daughter, squeezing her in the biggest hug. Raining her in kisses, they let her go, then launched themselves at Neri and me, trapping Ayla in the middle.
They didn’t speak.
We didn’t either.
There was nothing to say.
While sorting out things to move—after I finally told Neri I was building us a house—I’d come across the adoption paperwork that Neri said Teddy and Eddie had drawn up when I was at Cem’s mercy.
They’d done it to free Neri to come find me. To give her the peace of mind that Ayla would always have love and safety.
Safety.
That’d become the greatest gift of my life.
It was tragically underestimated and was the keystone to every happiness.
No one could be truly happy unless they felt safe.
And through that epiphany, I’d found peace.
I’d never had another nightmare or dark cloud in my head. Darkness didn’t surround me anymore, just light, and I wanted to ensure Ayla would always feel that. Always know how much she was cared for and protected.
Therefore, the smart decision, the only decision was to ensure that Ayla had more than one set of parents. She already had four. She’d had four since she was born.
Now...it was official.
Over the heads of my family, I smiled at Neri’s and my signature on the adoption paperwork.
As Ayla’s biological parents, we’d willingly shared custody of our wonderful child.
Teddy and Eddie were legally her guardians.
In the eyes of the law and always.
*
