Page 19 of Better Than Baby (Better Than Stories #9)

fourteen

The mountain of legalese involved in an adoption could intimidate even the most seasoned lawyer.

But not one who specialized in contracts and had a vested interest in creating an airtight, impossible-to-penetrate, binding agreement.

I spent long hours fussing with concise and foolproof terminology and conferring with some of the most respected legal minds in my field.

And Curt.

“This is solid, man. It should be your final draft.”

“You think?”

“For sure. I’ve seen six of these already. How many more iterations do you need before you’re satisfied?” Curt scrolled through the final pages and pushed my laptop across my desk.

“I need it to be perfect. I had Hughes and Kelleford review the paper work too, and I went through it for the umpteenth time last night. I can’t think of anything else to add.”

“There’s nothing left to add,” Curt huffed, softening his snark with an empathetic smile. “It’s a done deal.”

We hadn’t wanted to share the news about the adoption until we had more information, but we made a couple of exceptions, like Curt and Jack, and Peter and Jay.

We needed the support of friends who could be sounding boards and cheerleaders, ready with a “You got this” over a beer or a glass of wine at the end of yet another stressful day.

Our parents and other friends checked in regularly to find out how Lena was doing and ask if there were any newborn updates. We needed that too…a sweet reminder that good things were on the horizon no matter what else was going on in our lives.

But Curt was right. Legally, this could be a done deal as soon as all parties signed on the dotted lines.

I closed my laptop with a nod. “Yeah, I think it’s as complete as can be.”

Curt straightened his legs and sat back in the chair. “When do you meet him?”

“In an hour,” I replied, my gaze shifting automatically to my cell. “Aaron’s coming to the office, and we’re driving together to the courthouse. Even if all goes well, it could still be another few days or even weeks till it’s finalized…which sucks, but one day at a time, right?”

“Love that attitude. What can I do?”

The question threw me off guard for a beat. “I…what do you mean?”

“You’re going to need shit. Toys, teething stuff, babyproofing kits.

If he’s not walking yet, he will be soon, and toddlers get into everything.

You remember how Holly and Henry were for Jay and Peter.

Bonkers! Jack and I can pick up some things for you.

And you’ll need babysitters. Kids love me, and they love Jack even more.

” Curt wrinkled his brow. “I don’t know why.

I’m goofier for sure, but he’s more fun somehow.

And he’s hot. I don’t think kids care about that, though. ”

I chuckled. “Thank you, Curt. Wish us luck.”

He stood and skirted my desk, pulling me to my feet and in for a bear hug. “You don’t need it. You and Aar are going to be the world’s best fucking dads ever.”

I was so nervous, it wasn’t even funny. This eleven-month-old baby had been a phantom in our lives since well before he was born.

He was a dream who’d unwittingly become a larger-than-life figure in our definition of family.

We’d planned for him, worried about him, listened to his heartbeat, marveled at his size as his mom’s belly had grown.

Funny enough, we’d never met him on an ultrasound.

We’d seen the pics and video, but we hadn’t been in the room with her.

Cassie had done the first one prior to the initial adoption proceedings, and she hadn’t invited us to view the second one.

She’d gone with her mother, or so she’d claimed.

I’d later realized that this was roughly the time that the paternal grandparents had entered the picture and begun the campaign that would throw the adoption off course.

Two and a half months later, we’d been cut out of the equation completely with another two-plus months of pregnancy to go.

We’d mourned the loss of him as though there’d been a death in the family. Knowing he was nearby had been heartbreaking too. So close…but gone.

And now…he was here.

Xander.

A pint-sized blond baby boy with blue eyes, chubby cheeks, sitting on a quilted blanket with a teddy bear and three chunky plushie toy trucks in a judge’s chambers.

He wasn’t a mystery or a dream anymore. He had a name, a registered birth date of February tenth, a pediatrician’s record of immunizations, allergies, and a note regarding medication for a persistent earache he’d had last September.

It was all very ordinary, and yet Xander had never been ordinary to us.

We stepped into the chambers as if walking on eggshells. I think I shook hands with another lawyer, maybe two lawyers, but don’t quote me. My gaze was fixed on the adorable towheaded boy, his tiny feet kicking happily as he hummed around the fist he was attempting to stuff into his mouth.

Aaron’s breath hitched the second he spotted Xander. He ignored the lawyers and made a beeline to the blanket, sinking to his knees a few feet away from the cooing baby. “Hi, there.”

A kind-faced Black woman with long braids and a wide, welcoming grin motioned for me to join them too. “I’m Angie, Cassie’s friend.”

“I’m Aaron and this is my husband, Matt. We’ve…” He paused when his voice cracked and tried again. “We’ve been looking forward to meeting this little guy.”

“I know you have. Ask me anything. I won’t hold back. Cassie wants Xan-man to be happy, and I do too. He’s a sweet baby, very chill. He’s usually a good sleeper, but he’s teething lately and…well, check him out. He’s a drooling machine.”

Aaron snickered, but his eyes watered and his face took on a look of absolute wonder. “Whatcha got there, Xander? That’s a nice teddy bear. He has big paws, doesn’t he?”

I sat gingerly, on the fringe of the blanket, happy to observe Aaron meeting Xander for the first time.

His tone was melodic and full of whimsy, and his playful mannerism was…

safe. Aaron was a fucking natural with babies.

Knowing how significant this moment was for us, I was more in awe of him than ever.

I felt like a clumsy giant in comparison…in a suit, no less. Too big, too awkward. This seemed to be a regular occurrence lately, and I wasn’t sure that boded well for me.

“Cassie talks about you two,” Angie commented casually, scooting closer to me. “She feels bad about what went down.”

“ Mmm .”

“It’s true. Between hormone fluctuations and crazy-ass faux in-laws making a claim on her body, she was just…not equipped for battle. Not strong enough to stand her ground and fight. Not that she had to fight. They left her high and dry.”

“I heard.”

Angie smiled at Aaron, sitting cross-legged in his designer wear, spinning a tale for Xander about a mythical teddy bear.

“She lives on my floor. I borrowed flour for a cake I was baking for an ex. When he didn’t show up, I brought it to her place.

She wouldn’t take it unless I had a piece.

We stayed up late, eating my terrible cake, drinking too much wine, and talkin’ about stupid boys.

A few years later, we’re still friends. Cassie is super smart—big brain, but common sense is a challenge sometimes.

She’s young yet, and I’m sure she told you she never wanted to be a mom.

She thought of him as temporary…like she was just a guardian. That boy deserves more than that.”

“He does.” My throat constricted as Xander crawled toward Aaron and reached for his nose.

Xander giggled, a surprisingly low-pitched sound that ended in a squeal. Aaron laughed, glancing my way, a quiet question in his gaze. Are you seeing this? What do you think?

I didn’t have a chance to say a word ’cause Xander was a baby on a mission. He crawled off Aaron’s lap and headed for the nearest plushie truck. I picked it up on a whim and made a vroom vroom noise. He arched a brow and came charging for me.

He sat next to my knee and rescued his truck, babbling nonsense as he smacked it on the rug.

“Hey, your truck squeaks.” I squeezed it at the middle, slightly mortified that my voice warbled like an old man’s.

Xander stared at the truck, then at me…and smiled. A big beaming grin of rosy cheeks, tiny teeth, and lots of drool. I couldn’t have looked away if I’d tried.

Angie said something in the periphery and Aaron joined in, but I was locked in on the little boy jabbering away, his attention fixated on me for reasons unknown.

I played along, asking him if he thought it might be the tires or the transmission…

or something equally silly. He babbled in reply, rocking himself into a crawling position and climbing onto my lap.

He was on my lap.

He didn’t bonk my nose or pull at my collar. No. Xander sat on my knee and showed me his truck.

I could barely see it through the well of tears clouding my vision or hear with my heart thundering in my ears. And I didn’t dare make eye contact with any of the other adults in the room, knowing I was one kind word away from a total meltdown.

I concentrated on Xander instead and asked myself if I was up to the task. Could I be a father to this boy? Could I be his protector, his champion? Could I provide for him, educate him, be there for him through thick and thin? Could I be even half the dad my father was to me?

This was a huge responsibility, a lifetime commitment…on par with the one I’d made to Aaron. Different, of course, and yet all tied together in a tapestry of a new family.

Suddenly Aaron was at my side, his shoulder resting on my upper arm. “Matty?”

I sucked in a gulp of air and released a jagged laugh. “He’s got a lot to say about this truck.”

“He does.” Aaron gently caressed Xander’s hair, the hand a whisper over wisps of white blond. “He’s comfortable with us. Do you think…”

He trailed off when Xander laid his head against my chest. Aaron met my gaze and held it. Without saying a word, I knew we were both struck by the sweetness and enormity of the gesture.

Xander had chosen us.

“Yes.” I swiped at my cheek and laced our fingers, squeezing Aaron’s tight. “He’s ours, Aar. He says so himself. Right, Xander?”

Xander blew a bubbly raspberry, a toothy grin splitting his face.

We took that as a resounding yes.

I held him close as I stood and was immediately surrounded by lawyers and Gabby, the agency representative.

The shift from baby babbling to logistics and legalities was jarring…

even for a seasoned lawyer. But this was important, and any decent parent learned how to multitask at a moment’s notice—or so I’d been told.

So I cradled Xander, dodging a plushie truck to the nose and bouncing him on my hip, while discussing his future.

This was an uncontested private adoption on a reinstated file. Field checks had already been completed, but by law, they were required to do an in-home interview to ensure we were competent adults prepared to raise a child.

“Since we’re still working through a private agency versus the state, we can expedite this and have an inspector at your residence within the next couple of days,” Gabby said. “Will that work for you?”

“The sooner the better,” Aaron replied. “We’re ready.”

“Terrific! Last question. You mentioned that you have a newborn on the way soon. Are there any other changes in the file that I should note for the inspector?”

Aaron wrapped an arm around Xander and me and laughed. “Our dog, Murphy.”

Gabby grinned. “So this little guy has a brother or sister on the way and a dog? Wow. You’re one lucky little fella.”

No…we were the lucky ones.