Page 10 of Brokered Betrayals
Sawyer shook his head. “I didn’t get that impression. He just seemed tense and checked his watch twice in thirty seconds.”
“Anxious,” Kelsey said, narrowing her eyes. “We’ve got ourselves a mystery, gang.”
But Miguel and Ivy swept into the room before they could discuss the situation further. The group exchanged pleasantries with the attorneys as they sat at the table.
Ivy tucked a lock of straight black hair behind one ear and smiled at Kelsey. “How are you feeling?”
“I feel great, and Lil Sketti Squash is thriving.”
“Not much longer now,” Miguel said. He looked at Royce and Sawyer. “Are you guys ready?”
“Oh yeah,” Royce said. “The nursery is ready, the car seats are assembled, and the hospital bags are packed.”
Ivy opened a manila folder, and the sight of the paperwork made Sawyer’s heart skip a beat. “I have Royce’s proof of paternity and the post-birth order that establishes Royce and Sawyer Locke as the baby’s intended parents.”
Miguel opened a similar file and said, “And I have the post-birth relinquishment that Kelsey needs so Lil Sketti Squash can go home with her dads.” The group laughed at his use of the nickname they’d given Darla at thirty-six weeks. She’d be their Lil Pumpkin before long. “Everyone should read the documents and ask questions before signing them.”
Ivy passed her paperwork to Royce and Sawyer while Miguel did the same with Kelsey.
“You read it first since you speak legalese,” Royce said.
It took staring at the page for a few seconds before Sawyer’s brain allowed the letters to form words. He tried to maintain a sense of objectivity as he read the legal documents that would make their dreams a reality, but everything he’d learned in law school flew out the window. Sawyer’s heart spiked, and he felt both hot and cold at the same time. Royce placed a calming hand on his knee, and Sawyer took steadying breaths until he focused on the words in front of him.
“Everything looks accurate to me,” Kelsey said. “I’m ready to sign.”
“I agree,” Sawyer said as he slid the paperwork to Royce.
“I expected more documentation,” Royce said.
“This is just the beginning,” Ivy told him.
It didn’t take Royce long to read through the paperwork. “I’m ready to sign too.”
The attorneys had flagged the places that required their signatures, so the entire process was over in minutes.
“Great,” Ivy said. “And now we wait until Lil Sketti Squash arrives. Call me as soon as she’s born, day or night. I will send the post-birth order to the family court to get a judge’s signature. That will trigger the rest of the tasks we need to complete before we can make the adoption official. Does anyone have questions?”
Sawyer and Royce looked at one another, then shook their heads.
“Kelsey?” Miguel asked.
“No, I’m good.”
A few minutes later, the two couples were back outside. Sawyer held on to Kelsey longer than usual during their goodbye hug, but no one seemed to mind. Andrew and Royce chatted as they continued to their vehicles.
Kelsey pulled back and smiled at him. She’d traded in her heeled boots during the third trimester, but she was still nearly as tall as Sawyer in her flat boots. “Be honest. Did you worry I’d change my mind?”
“No,” he replied. “I’ve never doubted you.”
“I am going to miss this little girl, but I’d never hurt you guys that way,” Kelsey told him.
“And we’ll never keep her away from you,” Sawyer replied. “She’s always going to know that you’re her biological mother.”Sawyer squeezed her hand. “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
“A time or two,” Kelsey said with a smile. “And I love you too.”
“Obviously.” Sawyer kissed her cheek and led her toward the vehicles where their men waited. “Want to get pedicures on Saturday? I’ll book the royal botanical treatments with all the extra bells and whistles.”
“Yes, please.”