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“I thought I saw her in the hallway earlier,” Colt whispered.

“And you didn’t say anything?” Remi asked.

“I thought I was just being paranoid!” Colt raised his voice to be heard above the scuffling.

Two other officers ran in to help, and minutes later, Tasha was handcuffed. Two officers kept their hands on her as she shoved her shoulders and pushed against them, yelling the entire time. She kicked to the side, landing a blow to the side of the officer’s knee.

“She’s lost her mind,” Remi whispered.

“A long time ago,” Colt said.

A hush fell over the courtroom as the doors closed behind the officers escorting Tasha out. The echoes of her shouts were muffled in the hallway.

The judge took his seat and opened a file on his desk. “Mrs. Harding, I appreciate your warning about Miss White.”

Camille nodded once. “You’re welcome, Your Honor.”

The judge shuffled through a few of the papers on his desk. “Now that we’ve been hindered enough, let’s do what we came here to do.”

Half an hour later, the judge approved the adoptions of Benjamin and Abigail Walker to be filed in the Weston County Circuit Court by order before the end of business hours.

Colt wrapped Ben in his arms and shook him. “We did it.”

Abby threw her hands in the air. “Yay!”

Remi reached for Abby and squeezed the little girl’s shoulders. The rush of the win filled her lungs and left her feeling dizzy.

Remi was a mom. Abby and Ben would forever be her children in the eyes of God and the law. Despite the safe life she’d thought she wanted months ago, this was her calling. She was a parent, a wife, and a saved child of the Lord.

She picked up Abby and turned to Colt. No one had ever looked at her the way Colt did with love in his eyes. He wrapped her in his arms and pressed his lips to her cheek.

“I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

Camille hugged Ben and reached for Abby. “This is a huge win, guys. You think you can take care of Uncle Colt and Aunt Remi for the rest of their lives?”

“Oh yeah,” Ben said. “I’ll even feed them and water them every day.”

Everyone burst into laughter, and Remi gasped for air. No one had told her to expect dreams to come true that she’d never hoped to ask for. No one had told her that love like this existed. But most of all, no one could take this away from her. Not anymore.

Chapter35

Colt

The church parking lot was packed, and the bright-green wreaths with red bows stood out on the front doors amidst the snow-covered landscape. With Christmas coming next week, the hum of excitement buzzed in every moment.

Their first Christmas with Ben and Abby would be a highlight Colt would never forget. Remi had bought most of the gifts, but Colt had a few surprises up his sleeve. Every Christmas event brought them closer to the big day.

Colt opened the back door of the truck, and Abby shivered.

“Hurry. Hurry,” she said through chattering teeth.

“You got it.” Colt made quick work of the car seat straps and hefted her out onto her feet.

Abby ran to Remi’s side, bundling her coat around her. “Can I play with baby Jesus?”

Remi chuckled. “You have to take turns with the other girls.”