Chapter 36
Cole
“Archie, will you stop fucking fidgeting? You’re making me nervous, never mind Cole.” Ethan throws a flower at Archie’s head, who stops pacing and glares at him.
“Need I remind you, Ethan, that this is a monumental occasion! Everything could go wrong, and I have to ensure that everything runs smoothly; this is going to work. It has to work!”
Ethan rolls his eyes, and Rafe plucks the flowers from his hands. “Can you stop throwing the flowers, Ethan? Daisy will pitch a fit if she sees her precious plants thrown around the place.” He carefully arranges them in the vase by the envelope I’ve laid out.
Nate side-eyes me. “You’re unusually calm. You’re not drunk, are you?” He leans in close, sniffing up, and I swat him away.
“I am not drunk. I don’t need to worry, I know everything is going to work out.” Am I confident? Yes, am I still shitting myself? Also, yes.
Cas flies through the door, banging it open and startling the little beauty tucked safely in my arms. He notices and winces. “Sugar sticks! Sorry, little lady. They’re here.” He tries to act all nonchalant as Emmy, Hayleigh, Daisy, Mum, and finally Lacey walk through the door.
Archie bounces on his feet, giving me a pointed stare, then looking at Lacey and finally the envelope. He does this about five times before I widen my eyes at him, trying to convey to him to chill out, but he isn’t getting the message – subtle Arch, real subtle.
Lacey notices and narrows her eyes, placing her hands on her hips, and looks between all of us. “What is going on?”
Archie opens his mouth, and Ethan quickly covers it with his hands. “Let’s go for a walk, shall we?” He all but drags Archie out of the front door.
Rafe springs to his feet and points in the direction our brothers just left. “I’m gonna go make sure Ethan doesn’t kill Archie.” Then he hurries off in the same direction.
Nate pulls Cas along with him. “We’re going to watch them not kill Archie.”
I shake my head and pray that someone sends me some patience, because these brothers of mine are hard work. The girls and my mum quickly catch on that something is happening right now and make their excuses to leave.
Lacey lifts an arm and smells under her arm. “Do I smell bad? Why did the room clear when I walked in?” She laughs nervously, but I smile at her to ease that.
“I can’t get up just yet, but over there next to–”
She cuts me off with a loud girlish squeal when she sees the flowers. “Oh my god, those are beautiful. Cole, are they for me?”
Chuckling at her, I nod. “Yes, they are. And just beside them are two envelopes. Open the smaller one first.”
She eyes the envelopes as if they’re going to bite her, but when she sees the look of love in my eyes, she relaxes and tears it open. Her eyes scan the letter inside. When she looks back at me, questions swirl in the baby blue of her irises.
“Keep reading…”
She starts to read out loud.
Lacey,
I’m sorry for pushing you that day. I didn’t mean to hurt you or the baby. I wanted to scare you because I wanted money. I thought I could convince you to help me out.
I was never cut out to be a father. That was never going to be in the cards for me. It still isn’t. I don’t want to be a dad. I don’t want anything to do with the baby, and I’m signing all rights over to you.
Ted
She finishes reading and looks back at me. “Is this real? Is this legal? Can he sign his rights over? I-I thought Clive said…”
“Bring me the second envelope over.” She plucks it from the counter and walks over before sitting next to me.
“I spoke with Clive, and he said you can register her birth in your name. He will submit this letter as part of the case for full custody, along with the police reports. You don’t have to put his name on the birth certificate; you can leave it blank.
” She releases a deep breath as tears spring to her eyes.
“Can I not use your name?” I shake my head.
“No, baby, it doesn’t work like that.” Her face crumples as she covers her eyes. “But…can you hold Peanut for a second?” She takes hold of our little girl and rubs her nose with her own, gently shushing her.
I grab hold of the big brown envelope and take out the document inside before placing it next to her on the couch. She looks down, and her eyes widen when she sees the adoption papers.
Her eyes meet mine. “Are you sure?” I nod while sinking to the floor in front of her. Cupping her cheeks in my hands, I kiss her softly, murmuring against her lips, “Open her cardigan…”
She looks down at our little girl and unfastens the buttons, a gasp ripping from her lips.
Underneath her cardigan, Peanut’s wearing a pink vest, personalised with the words:
‘Will You Marry My Daddy?’
I take out the box that I’ve had since the day I found out she was planning to do this alone and place it in her palm.
“There is no pressure in any of this. If you decide this isn’t what you want or you don’t want to get married, I will still be here.
There is no world where I do not love you.
I will never leave you, either of you. Even if you decide that you want to be friends again, I’d…
” I don’t get to finish my speech because she yanks the back of my head towards her and kisses me fiercely.
“Yes, always yes.”
I place the ring on her finger and kiss her softly before kissing our little girl’s forehead.
A loud bang has us jumping apart, and we see the front door slam into the stopper just as Archie falls face-first. He groans, turning on his back and covering his eyes.
“Serves you right for eavesdropping at an unlocked door!” Ethan steps over Archie's groaning body, and the rest of our family files in.
I stand, throwing my hands in the air, completely exasperated with their antics. “What would you have done if she said no?”
Rafe shrugs. “Then we’d be consoling you both.” He says it like it’s the most straightforward answer in the world.
Cas clips the back of his head as he walks back. “Obviously, but Cole, that was never going to happen.”
My mum, Dad, and Don make their way over to us, pulling us into hugs, back slaps, and handshakes. My mum claps her hands together. “Have you decided on a name for her yet?”
Lacey looks at me, and we both nod. “We’re going to call her Penelope May Peterson, Penny for short.”
Don chokes out a sob, as does my mum, when they realise our little Peanut is named after Lacey’s mum and mine.
Our little Penny.
**********
Three months later. Baby size = Small Elephant.
I look around the courtroom again, my knee bouncing wildly, so much so that I think I’m going to go through the floor.
That is, until a delicate hand with a beautiful sapphire ring glinting in the courtroom lights lands on my knee.
I look at my fiancée, and she gives me a soft smile.
“Calm down, baby, everything is going to be okay.”
Today is the final custody hearing. As long as Ted keeps his word and doesn’t show up, custody will be granted to Lacey, and we can finally file those adoption papers with Clive.
Terror winds through me as my mind goes wild, conjuring up scenarios of Ted banging his way through the courtroom doors, demanding access to his biological daughter.
She isn’t his. She’s mine and Lacey’s.
I jump out of my skin when the door to the courtroom bangs open, and I almost throw up before I notice that it’s Nate trying and failing to sneak in. He makes his way over to us and winces. “Sorry, I was finding a parking space.”
Lacey glares at him. “Sit down and be quiet.”
Before I can say anything to him, we’re asked to stand, and the judge reviewing our case today enters the courtroom and takes a seat.
He goes through the usual speech and asks if Ted is present.
His mouth twists in disgust when there’s no answer but silence.
It isn’t long before he turns his gaze on us, his eyes softening as he says the words we have been waiting months to hear.
“Sole custody has been granted to Miss Lacey Fullman.”
Light, that’s the only way to describe how I am right now. I feel free, and I know Lacey does too, because she throws her arms around me and kisses me like there aren’t twenty people in this room watching.
“Can we please file those adoption papers now?”
I nod furiously and pick her up, kissing her again, happy in the knowledge that I officially have both my girls, Lacey and Penelope May Peterson.
THE END