Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
With their permission, I changed my petition with the court from legal custody to adoption. They would be mine, and no one would be able to take them away. All their forms would have me listed as their parent and not guardian, and somehow knowing this made our bond stronger.
The kids would keep Miri’s last name, though, and I was more than okay with that.
As suspected, Miri’s parents petitioned the court for visitation. It was something I was against, but ultimately, I left the decision to Cutter. If he wanted a relationship with his other grandparents, I wouldn’t stand in the way. But I would also lay some ground rules for Miri’s parents. I refused to let Cutter and Nova grow up knowing a mistake could cost them their family, and there was no way in hell I would let them refer to Cutter or even Nova as a mistake.
Weston and I sat on the porch, each of us in a rocking chair, while Nova ran around the front yard trying to catch butterflies with the net Weston had bought her.
I leaned back and closed my eyes, thankful for a quiet moment, when I felt his hand on mine. Peering out of one eye, he leaned toward me.
“I’ve been thinking.”
My heart sank. “Oh?”
He smiled. It was crooked, cocky, and adorable, and not at all reassuring. Sometimes I wondered if we were at two different stages in life. He’d retired from his profession and taken up teaching and coaching because he wanted to give back. I was a mom of two, with two mortgages and a job that took me out of town at least once, if not twice, a month. On paper, I was a train wreck.
“Nothing bad,” he said as if he could see the worry in my eyes.
“Nothing bad where you’re concerned? Or me? Should I be concerned?”
“Both of us, at least that’s what I’m hoping.”
“Go on.”
“I’m thinking, once the adoption is final, what about you and the kids moving in with me . . .”
My mouth dropped open, and he held his hand up. “Temporarily. This would give us an empty house to do the necessary remodeling. As it is now, if you want to do something, you’ll have to live around construction. With everyone out of the house, we can get it all done at once.”
While I liked the idea, it wasn’t going to be cost-effective. I shook my head lightly. “I’d have to take out a loan, and with two mortgages, I’m not sure the bank would approve. The life insurance the kids received from Miri went into a trust for them, and with the adoption, they won’t receive social security benefits. No bank would look at my expenses and hand me a loan right now.”
“I would.”
I laughed. “When did the Bank of Weston open up?”
“The day I rebuilt this porch,” he said.
“I can’t take your money. Teachers don’t make a lot.”
This time Weston howled with laughter. “You still haven’t looked me up, have you?”
I shrugged. “A little. Nothing in depth. I think I stopped when it said you were married, but I only looked then after my dad mentioned it. I was preoccupied.” I gave him a little poke in his stomach.
“I was very smart with my money during my career, Antonia. I don’t need to work but do so because I enjoy coaching. I don’t have a problem fronting the money for the house.”
“With interest?”
He shook his head, and I raised an eyebrow at him. Weston sighed. “I was thinking more like I move in if all goes well with us living together at my house.”
“You? Move in here? With us?”
He nodded the entire time I asked my three-part question.
“That’s if you’re ready. I know I am.” He took my hand. “After being with you and the kids all day, going home to an empty house really sucks, Antonia. I lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering how long I’ll have to wait to ask the three of you to move in with me. Living here, in the home Miriam loved so much, makes sense, but I also know you may not be ready, so I could be putting my cart before the horse, so to speak.
“Antonia, I’m not asking you to move in with me because Scout prefers to be here. I’m asking because I love you. I love Cutter and Nova. You’re my family.”
As if on cue, Nova squealed in delight as she ran around the yard with Scout. She jumped and moved her net in the air. He’d brought her this little bit of happiness, but it wasn’t just this gift. He’d brought Scout into our lives, and he put the kids first every time we planned a night out. Weston never had an issue spending our time with the kids. He wasn’t going to be the one to tell me they had to go to boarding school, or that I had to choose between him and them.