Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
He was on my lap.
He didn’t bonk my nose or pull at my collar. No. Xander sat on my knee and showed me his truck.
I could barely see it through the well of tears clouding my vision or hear with my heart thundering in my ears. And I didn’t dare make eye contact with any of the other adults in the room, knowing I was one kind word away from a total meltdown.
I concentrated on Xander instead and asked myself if I was up to the task. Could I be a father to this boy? Could I be his protector, his champion? Could I provide for him, educate him, be there for him through thick and thin? Could I be even half the dad my father was to me?
This was a huge responsibility, a lifetime commitment…on par with the one I’d made to Aaron. Different, of course, and yet all tied together in a tapestry of a new family.
Suddenly Aaron was at my side, his shoulder resting on my upper arm. “Matty?”
I sucked in a gulp of air and released a jagged laugh. “He’s got a lot to say about this truck.”
“He does.” Aaron gently caressed Xander’s hair, the hand a whisper over wisps of white blond. “He’s comfortable with us. Do you think…”
He trailed off when Xander laid his head against my chest. Aaron met my gaze and held it. Without saying a word, I knew we were both struck by the sweetness and enormity of the gesture.
Xander had chosen us.
“Yes.” I swiped at my cheek and laced our fingers, squeezing Aaron’s tight. “He’s ours, Aar. He says so himself. Right, Xander?”
Xander blew a bubbly raspberry, a toothy grin splitting his face.
We took that as a resounding yes.
I held him close as I stood and was immediately surrounded by lawyers and Gabby, the agency representative. The shift from baby babbling to logistics and legalities was jarring…even for a seasoned lawyer. But this was important, and any decent parent learned how to multitask at a moment’s notice—or so I’d been told.
So I cradled Xander, dodging a plushie truck to the nose and bouncing him on my hip, while discussing his future.
This was an uncontested private adoption on a reinstated file. Field checks had already been completed, but by law, they were required to do an in-home interview to ensure we were competent adults prepared to raise a child.
“Since we’re still working through a private agency versus the state, we can expedite this and have an inspector at your residence within the next couple of days,” Gabby said. “Will that work for you?”
“The sooner the better,” Aaron replied. “We’re ready.”
“Terrific! Last question. You mentioned that you have a newborn on the way soon. Are there any other changes in the file that I should note for the inspector?”
Aaron wrapped an arm around Xander and me and laughed. “Our dog, Murphy.”
Gabby grinned. “So this little guy has a brother or sister on the way and a dog? Wow. You’re one lucky little fella.”
No…we were the lucky ones.
fifteen
We launched into baby prep mode, part two. We had twenty-four to seventy-two hours to prove we were equipped to handle an active almost one-year-old. We sort of were. I mean, we had a fully-functioning nursery with a crib, a changing table, a rocking chair, unisex clothing, a monitor, and much more. According to our friends and family with small children, infants began by sleeping in a bassinet in their parents’ room anyway, so technically, we were more than prepared.
But I was married to someone who would never leave important things to chance. And let’s be real, we were riding a wild high. We’d met Xander and he was…everything. We wanted to make his transition into his new home as seamless as possible. We were going to buy the second crib, a car seat, a stroller for two, age-appropriate toys, clothes, and lots of diapers.
And yes, we were fully aware that Lena was a mere two weeks from our baby’s due date.
This was daunting stuff. Exciting, too.
I pushed the cart at Stork Emporium, barking orders via Bluetooth to my team at the office while Aaron tossed in everything from crib sheets and board books to safety latches for kitchen and bathroom cabinets. There were some items we’d have to order online, but a few hundred dollars later, we were in good shape.
We loaded up Aaron’s SUV and headed home in charged silence, our pinkies laced over the center console as a light snow fell on the windshield.
“We should check in on Lena. We’ve been so distracted today that I didn’t have a chance to call her yet.”
“Go for it.”
He punched in Lena’s number and a moment later, the buzz of a ringing cell permeated the interior of the SUV.
“Hi, Aaron,” she answered.
“Good afternoon, darling. We have a million things to tell you, but first…how are you, and how’s my sweet little angel love bug?”