Until Arsen (Daniels Family 1)

cupant can say anything.

“Arsen, language!” Marina admonishes with a laugh.

Ripping open the letter, I only read past the part that says adoption finalized before I hand it to her with a smirk. “Try and contain yourself.” I challenge her.

I know the exact moment she reads what I did. Tears flow like a river down her cheek. Her smile is brighter than sunshine, and her knees go weak, so I have to catch her.

“Is this real?”

“As you and me, baby.”

“What’s going on?” Jacob asks from the table where he’s doing a puzzle. He loves puzzles and math. Putting things together gives him great joy.

Walking over to him together, I pick the boy up and set him on the table. “Do you remember when Marina and I asked you if you’d like to stay with us? Then, Susan, your social worker from Knoxville, came and asked you a bunch of questions?”

“Yes.” He looks between us.

“Well, today, right here”—I show him the paper, and his eyes roam the words. Most of which he doesn’t know yet—“says that as of now, you, Jacob Daniels, are our son.”

Marina’s sobbing and vibrating body confuses him. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m so happy, Jacob. So very happy.”

He beams at her. “You’re my mom and dad now?”

“We are,” I confirm, watching as a smile to rival Marina’s transforms his face.

“We’re a real family!” he cheers, every bit as excited as we are as he wraps his arms around us. “Can I call you Mom and Dad, now?”

“I would love that so much.” Marina sobs into his small body.

“A real family,” he murmurs, amazed. “I have a mom and a dad.” I begin to choke up at the excitement in his voice. “You’re mine, and I’m yours.” He grins at us as we nod.

A year ago, we started down a path to an amazing gift. A boy so sweet and caring we couldn’t help but fall under his spell. Jacob is the child of our dreams, and with love surrounding us, I know we’ll be alright.

Epilogue 2

Marina

Two years later.

“Arsen!” I’m sure my scream can be heard in every house in Tennessee. As I waddle to the top of the stairs, my husband comes running.

“Is it time?” I want to smack his stupid grin as he races up the stairs.

“What do you think?” I growl at him. His hand snakes around my back as another contraction hits me.

“They’re close together. You think you’ll make it to the hospital?”

“Just get me there,” I grunt.

“Mom!” Jacob skids to a halt in front of us. “Is it happening? Are you okay?” Even though our sweet boy has been worried and scared about the baby coming, he’s a real champ. He loves her every bit as much as we love him.

“It’ll be fine,” I reassure as Arsen helps me into my new SUV, and Jacob gets my “go” bag from the house.

The doctors have been baffled at how I got pregnant at all, and Arsen has been strutting around like a damn peacock, proud as could be for the last six months.

We were warned that I would likely miscarry and that I should abort, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I couldn’t abandon my baby without giving her my all, first. She deserved everything I had before we gave up.