The party was the best one in her life. Her friends—Mel and Nikkie Jean especially, diabolical pair that they were—had turned the adoption party into what amounted to a belated baby shower. Complete with silly games.
And lots of gifts.
Mostly for the boys. The boys were in high heaven, unwrapping clothes and toys and books. She had no idea where they were going to put all of it.
No doubt most of the presents were Houghton’s doing. Mel said he even loved to wrap.
Nikkie Jean had conspired with Josie to have all of the photos of the boys she’d taken reprinted. Annie had not been allowed to really do anything with the photos because of social media rules for foster children. Josie and Nikkie Jean had had them collected into beautiful photo albums listing their new names, complete with the additional middle names she’d added in honor of important people in their lives. Solomon Joseph Frederick—after Mr. Henderson, Seeley James Jacob—after Jake, and Syrus Jonathon Caine. Caine hadn’t been a part of their lives for long, but he’d made an impact on the boys. It was a relationship she wanted to cultivate for her boys.
Her boys, hers. Finally. No one could take them away from her. They were safe.
She tightened her arms around Solomon and just held him as close as he’d let her for the moment. He was going to hit that age where he hated cuddles soon. Annie was going to enjoy them as long as she could.
She’d been their mother from the moment she’d opened her heart and her arms to them. But now…now no one could ever take them away from her again.
The guests were everywhere. Annie took the time to thank all of them personally. They hadn’t had to come support her and the boys, but they had. Taken time away from their busy lives to be there. For her and the boys. Just how much that mattered could never be expressed.
She hugged Mel, so thankful for what she’d done that she couldn’t put it into words.
“It’s what we do for our friends, Ann. Letting others help sometimes, depending on them, it’s not always easy. I know that for a fact. Sometimes, though, it’s the best decision we can ever make.”
Sometimes, though, Mel could be a little cryptic. Sometimes she spouted things like Fear robs you of the future. Don’t let it.
Annie half-thought those words could apply to her, too. For so long she’d lived in fear of one thing. That one thing had overshadowed everything.
Losing the boys. Now, now she could breathe again.
She kissed her son’s honey-blond head, then looked up at the friends and family that had joined them today.
And right into beautiful blue eyes.
Turner had been there, too. Heat hit her cheeks.
He was watching her, an almost-tender grin on his handsome face.
Annie just looked at him and smiled. Today was the most perfect moment of her life. Turner stepped closer.
Annie reached out her free hand to him before she stopped to think what it meant. His fingers wrapped around hers as Syrus gave him a quiet little wave. And then he was pulling them closer.
Nothing had been more perfect than today.