Chapter 34 Antonia #2
On top of me being knee deep in sports and work, the court appointed a guardian ad litem, or GAL, for the kids.
I didn’t really like her, but she wasn’t there for me.
It was her job to make sure the kids’ needs were being met.
Still, I felt like I was under a microscope and really hated being scrutinized.
I knew I was a good person who had a job that more than supported Cutter and Nova, but when I told the ad litem I couldn’t meet on Mondays or Fridays, I sensed a bit of discord from her.
Any other days, except for games, I was home, and she was welcome.
After Miri passed, the attorney filed the paperwork for me to be appointed legal guardian of the kids, which was what we had agreed upon.
Until one rainy day when we were all sitting there, watching a movie. Cutter was in the oversize reading chair, while Nova snuggled next to me. Weston and Scout were also there, but Scout made sure he was next to Nova, pushing his owner to the corner of the couch.
A character on the screen mentioned adoption. I hadn’t thought anything of it until Cutter asked if I was going to adopt them. I figured being their guardian was enough.
With their permission, I changed my petition with the court from legal custody to adoption. They would be mine, and no one would be able to take them away. All their forms would have me listed as their parent and not guardian, and somehow knowing this made our bond stronger.
The kids would keep Miri’s last name, though, and I was more than okay with that.
As suspected, Miri’s parents petitioned the court for visitation.
It was something I was against, but ultimately, I left the decision to Cutter.
If he wanted a relationship with his other grandparents, I wouldn’t stand in the way.
But I would also lay some ground rules for Miri’s parents.
I refused to let Cutter and Nova grow up knowing a mistake could cost them their family, and there was no way in hell I would let them refer to Cutter or even Nova as a mistake.
Weston and I sat on the porch, each of us in a rocking chair, while Nova ran around the front yard trying to catch butterflies with the net Weston had bought her.
I leaned back and closed my eyes, thankful for a quiet moment, when I felt his hand on mine. Peering out of one eye, he leaned toward me.
“I’ve been thinking.”
My heart sank. “Oh?”
He smiled. It was crooked, cocky, and adorable, and not at all reassuring.
Sometimes I wondered if we were at two different stages in life.
He’d retired from his profession and taken up teaching and coaching because he wanted to give back.
I was a mom of two, with two mortgages and a job that took me out of town at least once, if not twice, a month. On paper, I was a train wreck.
“Nothing bad,” he said as if he could see the worry in my eyes.
“Nothing bad where you’re concerned? Or me? Should I be concerned?”
“Both of us, at least that’s what I’m hoping.”
“Go on.”
“I’m thinking, once the adoption is final, what about you and the kids moving in with me . . .”
My mouth dropped open, and he held his hand up. “Temporarily. This would give us an empty house to do the necessary remodeling. As it is now, if you want to do something, you’ll have to live around construction. With everyone out of the house, we can get it all done at once.”
While I liked the idea, it wasn’t going to be cost-effective.
I shook my head lightly. “I’d have to take out a loan, and with two mortgages, I’m not sure the bank would approve.
The life insurance the kids received from Miri went into a trust for them, and with the adoption, they won’t receive social security benefits.
No bank would look at my expenses and hand me a loan right now. ”
“I would.”
I laughed. “When did the Bank of Weston open up?”
“The day I rebuilt this porch,” he said.
“I can’t take your money. Teachers don’t make a lot.”
This time Weston howled with laughter. “You still haven’t looked me up, have you?”
I shrugged. “A little. Nothing in depth. I think I stopped when it said you were married, but I only looked then after my dad mentioned it. I was preoccupied.” I gave him a little poke in his stomach.
“I was very smart with my money during my career, Antonia. I don’t need to work but do so because I enjoy coaching. I don’t have a problem fronting the money for the house.”
“With interest?”
He shook his head, and I raised an eyebrow at him. Weston sighed. “I was thinking more like I move in if all goes well with us living together at my house.”
“You? Move in here? With us?”
He nodded the entire time I asked my three-part question.
“That’s if you’re ready. I know I am.” He took my hand.
“After being with you and the kids all day, going home to an empty house really sucks, Antonia. I lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering how long I’ll have to wait to ask the three of you to move in with me.
Living here, in the home Miriam loved so much, makes sense, but I also know you may not be ready, so I could be putting my cart before the horse, so to speak.
“Antonia, I’m not asking you to move in with me because Scout prefers to be here. I’m asking because I love you. I love Cutter and Nova. You’re my family.”
As if on cue, Nova squealed in delight as she ran around the yard with Scout.
She jumped and moved her net in the air.
He’d brought her this little bit of happiness, but it wasn’t just this gift.
He’d brought Scout into our lives, and he put the kids first every time we planned a night out.
Weston never had an issue spending our time with the kids.
He wasn’t going to be the one to tell me they had to go to boarding school, or that I had to choose between him and them.
Weston knew we were a package deal, and he was the bow to make us complete.
“I know it’s fast, and I know you’re scared—”
“It’s not that, Weston. I worry about the impact something like this would have on the kids. What if this doesn’t work out?”
“What if it does and we live happily ever after, raising these two amazing kids?”
I looked at Nova and Scout, best friends already, and then I glanced around the yard and house Miri loved so much . . . love. My eyes shot to Weston’s.
“Did you say that you loved me?”
He nodded emphatically. “I believe my words were, ‘I love you.’”
I smiled, having heard him the first time, but wanting him to say it again so I could absorb the words in this moment. I shook my head, pretending to be confused. “What?”
“Oh, was I not clear?” He paused. “I. Love. You.” He enunciated each word.
“That’s perfect because I love you too,” I said, repeating his words back to him. “Let me talk to them, but I’m definitely a yes on the whole cohabiting thing.”
Weston stood and pulled me into his arms. He pressed his lips to mine, and before the kiss could go any deeper, we heard, “Ooh, someone is kissing!”
Thanks, Nova.