EPILOGUE
TYLER
“You sure you want to stand? How are your ankles?”
Becca shrugs, then blows and pops a pink bubble. “I’m fine.”
She holds Ellie’s hand tight in front of the judge’s stand, almost two years to the day from when she and I stood here, scared to death and unsure as all hell. Ellie leans her ear against Becca’s swollen belly, something she’s taken to doing since Becca started showing.
“What’s she doing in there?” Becca asks.
“Swimmin’,” Ellie says through a mouthful of bubble gum. Ellie has taken it upon herself to be the translator for her baby sister, still growing all cozy in her mama’s tummy. Ellie has two answers to that question: swimming or sleeping. She’s probably right with either answer.
Becca looks around. “Here, let’s spit out our gum before we do this.”
I grab a trash can and extend it so the girls can ditch their gum.
“Why couldn’t T-Bone come?” Ellie whines.
Becca crouches, spreading her knees to make room for her belly. “I wanted her to come too, lil mama. We’ll just have to give her the good news when we get home. Maybe we can make her a pup cup to celebrate.”
“Are we ready to get started? Nice seeing the two of you back here,” the judge says with a broad smile.
It’ll be two years of marriage on Sunday, with our loan fully paid back, and Becca’s farm even getting a mention in Southern Living for her festivals. Now we’re fighting off collaboration offers with a baseball bat.
Well, Becca is. I’m still working at the garage, and I let her work her own magic with the farm stuff. I only butt in when she asks me to, or when I force my way in because she’s overworking while she’s pregnant.
A cry from the back of the courtroom draws everyone’s attention, and Darcy grimaces while bouncing her and Jake’s toddler. “Sorry,” she mouths.
All our people are here again: Ernest; Becca’s mom and mamaw; Dusty, Ronnie with a big honker of a ring, and Ada; my mom and my dad, who has shifted to restoration jobs at the garage; Jake, Darcy, and little James.
“Let’s begin.”
Becca and I raise our right hands and swear to tell the truth.
Our lawyer hands over the documents she pulled together.
I think of how far we’ve come with everything.
I stopped getting bills from CJ’s rehab, and when I called to ask about it after a couple months, they said an anonymous donor had called and paid it in full.
That will always be a mystery to me. Was the anonymous donor CJ herself? Becca with some funds she’s kept aside? Someone else entirely? I eventually chose to be grateful and moved on.
It tore me up to finalize the termination of CJ’s parental rights, but she hasn’t been around or tried to contact us in five years.
Legally, that’s more than enough time, but it still sucks.
Becca and I had a good cry about it, and she’s been really supportive while I’m going through my feelings about it.
I started seeing a therapist a while ago, and it’s helped to have that guidance.
Becca and I decided if CJ ever does come back and wants a relationship with Ellie, we’d be open to considering it.
The most important thing is that Becca is Ellie’s Mama, and now we’re making it legally official.
My eyes well as I look over at my girls: the one who has half of my heart, the one who stole it, and the one who we haven’t met yet but is already so loved.
Two years ago, one of those little lights was the only thing keeping me going. Then Becca blasted her way back into my life and knocked down every wall I’d carefully built, much like the Kool-Aid man who once dyed her hair.
And the sunshine she is, she shed light on what was already there: a crew of people ready to love and support me.
We’re a family. Now the judge makes it official.
“It is my pleasure to sign and date this adoption. Welcome to your new forever family, Ellie and Rebecca.”
Becca’s on her knees hugging Ellie and crying, and I can’t leave them like that. I crouch down and surround them with my arms.
“I love you so much, lil mama. I’m so glad I’m really your mama now.”
“I love you, Mama. Don’t cry.”
Becca coughs a wet laugh and wipes under her lashes. “Stupid hormones.”
Ellie isn’t crying because I’m not sure how much she gets it. To her, Becca’s been there since she can remember, the only mama she’s ever had.
“You’re allowed to cry, Reba,” I laugh, and she lets me help her stand and hold her close. I kiss her temple. “I love you so much, baby. I’m so glad we’re all official now.”
She nods against my shirt while our people start to circle around us, taking turns giving Ellie hugs and high fives. “I love you too, Ty. I’m so happy. I can’t stop crying.”
Becca’s face is red and splotchy by the time we take our pictures, but her smile is as bright as ever. I can’t wait to have that photo framed on our mantle soon.
The day we became a family.
After we leave the courthouse, the three—and a half—of us walk hand in hand to the diner, trailed by our family and friends.
I didn’t know it could get this good.
I didn’t know my heart could be this full.
I didn’t know I’d spend my life falling for Becca, over and over again.
But I sure am glad I held out hope that one day, the storms would clear, the sun would shine, and I’d get that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.