Victoria's not your mom, Sophie said matterof factly. She will be. We're doing adoption. Sophie's eyes went wide. Really?
Really? That's so cool. Ethan heard the exchange from across the room. Heard Ava call Victoria mom for the first time without hesitation. Saw Victoria freeze, then smile so wide her face must have hurt.
After the party, after the guests left and Ava finally crashed from sugar overload, Victoria found Ethan cleaning up the living room. "She called me mom," Victoria said. "I heard. " Just like that, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "To her it is. " Victoria sat heavily on the couch, staring at the wrapping paper scattered across the floor. "What if I mess this up? " "You won't. " "You don't know that. " "I do, actually, because you care too much to mess it up.
Caring isn't enough. I don't know how to be a mother, Ethan. I didn't have a good example. My mom died when I was 12, and my dad checked out emotionally after that. I don't know what I'm doing.
He sat beside her. Neither do I. I'm making it up as I go, same as you. But you're good at it. Some days.
Other days, I'm convinced I'm screwing her up in ways I won't even understand until she's in therapy at 30. Victoria laughed despite herself. That's reassuring. My point is, nobody knows what they're doing. We're all just trying our best and hoping it's enough.
And if it's not, then we adjust. We learn. We keep trying. He took her hand. Victoria, you've already been parenting Ava for months.
You're already doing it. The only thing changing is the paperwork. It feels like more than paperwork. It is more, but you're ready for it. She leaned against him.
I'm terrified. Good. That means you're taking it seriously. What if she changes her mind? What if she decides she doesn't want me as her mom after all?
That's not going to happen. But what if, Victoria? He turned her face toward him. Stop. She loves you.
She wants this. And even if she has doubts later, which she won't, we'll work through them together as a family. Tears slipped down her cheeks. I never thought I'd have this. Neither did I.
I'm glad I was wrong. Me, too. They stayed on the couch long after they should have gone to bed, neither wanting to break the moment. Finally, Victoria stirred. I should probably start the adoption paperwork tomorrow.
Probably. Do you know how to do that? Not even a little bit. Great. We'll figure it out together.
Like everything else. She smiled. Yeah, like everything else. The adoption process turned out to be more complicated than either of them expected. Background checks, home visits, interviews, mountains of paperwork.
Victoria attacked it with the same intensity she'd once brought to corporate acquisitions. But frustration crept in when bureaucracy moved at bureaucracy speed. They want another reference, she said one night, throwing papers onto the kitchen table. We've already provided six. Then we'll get them seven, Ethan said calmly.
This is ridiculous. I'm trying to adopt a child I already live with, already parent, already love. Why is this so hard? Because the system is designed to protect kids. I would never hurt her.
They don't know that yet. They will. She deflated, the fight going out of her. What if they say no? They won't.
But what if they do? Then we appeal or we try again or we find another way. He pulled her into his arms. One way or another, we're going to be a family. Legally, officially, all of it.
The home visit happened on a Tuesday. A social worker named Patricia Chen arrived with a clipboard and a kind but thorough demeanor. She interviewed them separately together, then asked to speak with Ava alone. Ethan and Victoria waited in the kitchen, both tense. What if Ava says something wrong?
Victoria whispered. There's no wrong thing to say. What if she tells them about the time I burned dinner so badly we had to open all the windows? That's not a disqualifying event. What if Victoria breathe?
She tried. It didn't really help. After 20 minutes, Patricia emerged with Ava, both smiling. That was easy, Ava announced. She just asked if I was happy and if V was nice to me and if I wanted her to be my mom.
And what did you say? Victoria asked, trying to sound casual. I said yes to all of it. Duh. Patricia smiled.
Ava was very clear about her feelings. I have no concerns about this placement. Victoria's knees nearly gave out. Really? Really?
I'll submit my recommendation to the court. Assuming everything continues smoothly, we should have a hearing date within the month. After Patricia left, Victoria sat on the couch and cried. Happy tears this time, but still tears. "We're really doing this," she said.
"We really are," Ethan confirmed. Ava climbed into her lap. "Why are you crying, V? " "Because I'm happy. " Happy tears are weird. They really are. But I get it.
I cry when I'm happy, too. Victoria hugged her close. "Thank you for what? For wanting me. For choosing me. " Ava pulled back, confused.
You're the one who chose me. No, sweetheart. We chose each other. The hearing was set for a cold morning in early November. They dressed carefully.
Ava in her favorite blue dress. Ethan in a suit he'd bought specifically for the occasion. Victoria in something professional but not intimidating. I'm nervous, Ava admitted in the car. Me, too, Victoria said.
What if the judge says no? The judge won't say no. But what if? Then we try again. Victoria reached back and squeezed her hand.
But I really don't think that's going to happen. The courthouse was intimidating. All marble and echoing footsteps and people in suits rushing past. They found the right courtroom and sat in the hard wooden benches waiting. When their case was called, they stood before Judge Elizabeth Martinez, a woman in her 60s with sharp eyes and a reputation for caring deeply about children's welfare.
She reviewed the paperwork in silence, read Patricia's report, then looked at Ava. Ava Blake? Yes, ma'am. Do you know why you're here today? For the adoption, so V can be my mom.
And is that what you want more than anything? Why? Ava thought about it because she shows up when I'm sad or scared or happy or confused or anything. She's there. She reads me stories and helps with homework and makes bad pancakes and tells me when I'm being ridiculous.
She loves me. I can tell. Judge Martinez's expression softened. That's a very good answer. She turned to Victoria.
Ms. Hail, do you understand the commitment you're making today? Yes, your honor. This isn't temporary. This isn't conditional. Once this adoption is finalized, Ava is legally your daughter forever.
I understand, and that's exactly what I want. Why do you want to adopt Ava? Victoria looked at the girl sitting between her and Ethan, then back at the judge. Because she's already my daughter in every way that matters. Because I can't imagine my life without her.
Because when I wake up in the morning, my first thought is making sure she's okay. And when I go to bed at night, my last thought is how lucky I am to have her. The only thing this adoption changes is making it official. Making sure the whole world knows what we've all known for months. We're a family.
The judge nodded slowly. Mr. Blake, you consent to this adoption completely, your honor. And you understand M. Hail will have equal parental rights. I do, and I want that.
Ava deserves two parents who love her, who show up for her, who choose her every single day. Judge Martinez made a note on her papers, then looked at all three of them. I've reviewed your case thoroughly. I've read Patricia Chen's report, which is glowing. I've seen the documentation of your home, your finances, your commitment to each other, and most importantly, I've heard from Ava herself.
She paused, and Victoria's heart stopped. I see absolutely no reason to delay this adoption. Judge Martinez smiled. Petition granted. Ms. Hail, you are now Ava Blake's legal mother.