Epilogue #5
“He did an amazing job, didn’t he?” Cash said. “He put more hours into it than any of his classmates.”
“Dad helped, though,” Clover admitted. “He’s the one who can get close to the real egg.”
“But you did most of the work.” Cash ruffled his son’s curly hair.
“It’s stunning,” Lilly said. “I’ll put it on the mantle where we’ll always see it.”
“I’m so glad you like it.” Clover beamed as he practically fell against Lily.
They hugged for a long moment, and then he stood with a conspiratorial grin.
“I made something else.” He withdrew a second bag and handed it to a surprised Angora.
“This is for you since you’re my grandma too.
” He grinned sheepishly, and Angora almost burst into tears.
“I’m not blood, but you best believe I’m your grandmother.” She dragged the boy into a hug, trying desperately not to sob and ruin her makeup, and Sable looked away to stop her own tears only to catch Cash studying her. Not wishing to cause a scene, though, she simply offered him shrug.
“He didn’t want your mom to feel left out,” he explained, his lips curving in a comforting smile.
“Because he’s perfect,” Sable said, and Cash wrapped her in his arms, hugging her tight.
“He is the best son… for now.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I don’t want to say the best ever because I plan on loving all my kids to death.”
Sable twisted in his hold and kissed his lips. She remained silent though, to keep from crying and embarrassing the table. She would love all their children as well, only she would always have one less kid than Cash.
“Oh my goodness, how cute,” Angora crooned as she withdrew her gift. It was a sculpture like Lily’s egg, but this one was a pair of ears identical to the ones sitting atop Sable’s head.
“I was going to give you an egg too, but Dad said I should make something unique,” Clover said. “So, I made ears like Sable’s.”
“These are perfect.” Angora held them up against her real ears. “I love them. What a nice surprise.” She pulled the boy into another hug, and Clover grinned so wide that Sable worried he would hurt himself.
“It was a wonderful surprise, thank you,” Lily agreed. “This has been such a lovely afternoon. Does it have to end? Maybe we can go to the park?”
“We’re scheduled to visit my son,” Angora said.
“My youngest boy just had a baby, and this was his wife’s first Mother’s Day.
They wanted to spend the morning by themselves, but they asked if we would come for dinner to give my daughter-in-law a break.
Her parents live abroad, so I’m her stand-in mom for the holiday. ”
“Oh okay, maybe another time,” Lily said. “It was so nice meeting you guys. We should hang out as a group more often.”
“Grandma, just because Grandma Angora has to leave doesn’t mean you need to.
” Clover moved to sit, but after staring at his chair for a moment, he walked around the table and stood before Sable.
He stared expectantly at her, and not sure what he wanted, she released Cash’s hand and leaned back in her seat.
Clover instantly sat in her lap, curling sideways against her chest like a toddler and not an eleven-year-old boy.
“Can grandma and grandpa go to the park with us?” he asked.
“Of course.” Sable wrapped him in her arms, unsure why the kid was suddenly acting insecure. “Why are you asking me, though?” she whispered. “You don’t need my permission to see your grandparents.”
“But I wanted to,” Clover said. “You know, because everyone always says, ‘Go ask your mother’.”
“My father certainly said that a lot,” Sable chuckled.
“Do you think Dad will say that?” Clover asked.
“Why would your dad tell you to ask your mother?” Sable felt sick at the words. Had The Ombra escaped prison? Was there some legal agreement that would force them to share Clover with that cruel woman?
“Because of this.” Cash slipped a manila envelope onto the table before her.
“I have one more Mother’s Day present,” Clover said. “This is for you… it’s from me,” he clarified. “Dad helped though, so I guess it’s from him too, but it’s mostly from me.”
“Go on, my love.” Cash slid his broad palm down her back. “Open it.”
With shaking fingers, Sable picked up the envelope and withdrew its contents, and one look at the legal heading on the papers was all it took to destroy her.
She dissolved into ugly tears, the entire restaurant turning to gawk at her, but she didn’t care.
She simply hugged Clover tighter and sobbed uncontrollably.
For minutes, no one spoke as she cried, and she was vaguely aware of Cash and Clover sobbing with her.
Cash had somehow pulled her into his embrace, and together, the three of them made a scene in the middle of the brunch rush, for those were no ordinary legal papers. They were adoption papers… for Clover.
“Dad talked to a lawyer,” the boy said through hitched breaths.
“A judge ruled that my birth mom is an unfit parent and that she no longer has parental rights. That means I don’t have a mother.
” He wrapped his arms around Sable’s neck, and through her tears, she noticed both sets of grandparents dabbing at their eyes.
“Will you adopt me?” Clover cried, and Sable thought she might break into a million pieces.
“You’re the one, Sable,” Cash said. “You’re it for us, and I wasn’t joking when I said I wanted you to be the mother of my children.
I meant all of my children. You’re the mom Clover never had, and we both want you in our lives forever.
We also want it to be legal so there are no more incidents.
You are and always will be Clover’s mother. ”
“So will you be my mom?” Clover asked, and Sable understood why he’d been acting so insecure. He wanted the woman he found in the restricted section of the museum to be his mother, and he was afraid that, like the thief who bore him, she wouldn’t agree.
“Of course, I want to be your mom,” she shouted, the entire restaurant jumping at her declaration. “I want it so badly that I was upset today.” She pulled him into another hug as the air erupted with applause.
“I know,” Clover said. “Dad said you were sad, but we didn’t want to ruin the surprise. We wanted this to be your first Mother’s Day.”
“Well then, give me those papers so I can sign them.” Sable snatched the pen from Cash and eagerly signed all the dotted lines as the restaurant applauded her.
“We have to file these to make it legal, but that’s a technicality,” she said, kissing Clover’s temple. “How are you doing, son?” she asked. “Are you happy?”
“I’m happy.” Clover rested his head against her chest as Cash leaned over and kissed Sable with such passion that both grandmothers blushed.
“I’m really, really happy, Mom.”