Chapter 35
The courthouse smelled the same as it had six weeks ago: lemon oil, old paper, and the faint metallic tang of nerves. But everything else had changed.
I stepped through the heavy oak doors in a pale blue dress, the color of perfect afternoon skies. The fabric skimmed my hips and stopped just above the knee, far more respectable than the jeans and dirty tee I’d worn the last time I was here.
Ty walked half a step behind me, close enough that the sleeve of his suit jacket brushed my arm. He looked like a man who had his shit together, not the same man who’d sat on the hallway floor, elbows on his knees, crying into my lap because he was terrified of losing her.
Junie sat in the very back row with Emmy, legs swinging above the floor, wearing the navy-blue dress with tiny white flowers we’d picked out together last weekend.
She’d thought about wearing the shoes we bought to match, but the pink rain boots were still on her feet, and that was fine by me.
Every time our eyes met, she gave me a small, brave smile that cracked my heart clean open.
We took our seats in the front. Ty’s knee bounced twice before he caught it, pressed his palm flat against his thigh like he could still the tremor that lived under his skin now. I reached over without looking and covered his hand with mine.
A lot had happened since our last hearing. Not fixed. Not healed. But we were here, together.
Sandra stood. “Your Honor, CPS has completed its review. Home visits were successful; Ms. Winslow has refurbished her sister’s house and secured a steady job.
For all intents and purposes, Juniper’s care has remained stable.
With these findings, we recommend granting Ms. Winslow full physical and legal custody of her niece, Juniper Winslow. ”
Ty’s hand tightened around mine until I felt the bones grind. He stared straight ahead, jaw locked, waiting for the blow he was certain was coming.
The judge turned his attention to me. “Ms. Winslow, before I rule, do you have questions?”
I stood, then smoothed my dress down over my legs.
“Yes, Your Honor,” I said. “I have a question.”
Ty went still beside me.
I turned to face him as I spoke, wanting him to see my eyes when I did what Violet told me to and followed my gut. “Can we honor my sister’s wishes and make Mr. Hudson’s and my temporary joint arrangement permanent?”
The judge blinked. “Ms. Winslow… are you requesting an adoption?”
Ty’s head snapped toward me so fast I was surprised his neck didn’t crack. His eyes were wide and glassy and absolutely wrecked. His lips parted, but no sound came out.
I nodded, not looking away from him. “I’m asking if Ty would like to adopt her with me.”
From the back, Junie scrambled to her feet on the bench, clutching Emmy’s sleeve like it was a lifeline. “YES!” she shrieked, loud enough to echo off the vaulted ceiling. “I mean, yes, please!”
The judge’s eyebrows climbed toward his hairline. He cleared his throat but didn’t hide his smile. “Young lady, we try to maintain some decorum.”
Ty twisted in his seat, looking at her like she’d just handed him the moon.
The judge cleared his throat and looked down at the documents in front of him. “Well,” he said, adjusting his glasses, “it appears Mr. Hudson already has a completed background check, home study, and foster certification on file with this county.”
Ty’s breath stuttered, and I reached across to lace my fingers with his.
The judge continued, “These were conducted when he was approved as Juniper’s kinship foster parent. All requirements for adoptive placement are therefore already satisfied.”
Sandra nodded behind the table. “CPS has no objections.”
The judge looked back at Ty. “Mr. Hudson, do you understand that adoption is permanent? You would be Juniper’s legal father. This is not temporary or easily undone.”
My fingers tightened in his grip, doing my best to ease the tremor gripping him.
“Yes,” he said, voice raw. “I understand.”
“And your answer?”
He looked at me. Then at Junie.
“Yes,” he said, stronger. “If she wants me, I would love to be her dad.”
Junie nodded so hard her glasses nearly fell off.
The judge’s grin widened. “Well then, this is a fun surprise. Given that all legal criteria are met and CPS recommends permanency, I see no reason to delay.”
He gestured for Junie to come forward. She vaulted over the bench in front of her, rubber boots squeaking against the wooden floors as she sprinted into Ty’s arms. He caught her and lifted her up, holding her as if she was the most precious thing in the world.
I stepped beside them, smoothing her hair, feeling the three of us form a tight circle at the front of the courtroom.
The judge leaned forward over his bench until he was eye level with Junie. “Juniper, is it your wish to be adopted by Mr. Hudson as your legal father?”
“Yes,” she breathed, then squeezed her arms around Ty’s neck tighter. “He already is.”
Ty made a broken sound, forehead pressed to hers.
The judge turned to me. “And Ms. Winslow, do you wish to continue as Juniper’s legal guardian—her aunt, her family—with Mr. Hudson?”
Junie reached back and threw an arm around my neck, pulling me into their little group hug. “Yes,” I said, rubbing a hand up and down her back. “Always.”
The judge picked up his pen.
“Then, by the authority of the State of Colorado, I grant the adoption of Juniper Winslow to Ty Hudson, with joint legal guardianship retained by Daisy Winslow.”
The gavel came down, making it official.
Junie wrapped her arms around both our necks, shaking with relief and joy. “We’re a family,” she whispered. “My family.”
Ty kissed her forehead. I kissed her cheek. And for the first time since Violet died, the world didn’t feel sharp.
It felt different, changed, made anew.