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Chapter Sixteen

TUCKER

I gave my reflection a final once-over in the bathroom mirror, then checked my watch for the sixth time in two minutes. Seven-fifteen. Where was the time going? And why the hell couldn't I just calm the fuck down and let this morning unfold at its own pace?

“This is a routine procedure,” Mr. Jenkin’s calm lawyer voice had repeated several times the day before. “Don't sweat it.” Except here I was, sweating it. Worse, I couldn't shut off my brain and all the questions it tossed at me, one after another like pop-ups on a computer screen. What if we said the wrong thing? What if the judge didn’t think we were cut out for this kind of responsibility? What if he didn’t think we were good enough to be Chloe’s guardians?

I hated those thoughts. I hated even thinking about those thoughts. I messed with my collar again as Bryson stepped into the bathroom, looking completely put together and ridiculously composed. In black slacks and a mint-green button-up shirt, he seemed ready for whatever came next.

There was no missing the smile on his lips when he saw me struggling with my tie. “You’re making that look harder than it should be,” he said.

I leaned closer to the mirror. “This should be easier than it is, shouldn’t it?”

He moved in close, his hands sliding around from behind me to tie my tie in precise, neat motions. The warmth of his body, the smell of his aftershave, both made my heart pound, but for better reasons than before. “It's a big day,” he said, his voice soothing, even. “You're allowed to be nervous.”

“Mr. Jenkins said it would be a piece of cake,” I said. “Isn't that what he called it?”

“Routine, easy, don't sweat it,” Bryson recited, making it sound less like legalese and more like a lullaby.

“You're not worried?” I asked, searching his face for even a shadow of doubt, but it was useless.

“Not really,” he said. He looked like he believed it. Hell, maybe he even did. “We've been taking care of Chloe for six months now. We love her and she loves us. The judge will see that.” His voice stayed solid, like he knew it to be true.

He laid his chin on my shoulder, staring at our reflections in the mirror, and I let out a long, jittery breath. “You make it sound so simple,” I said, leaning into his touch and hoping his calm would rub off on me.

“It is simple,” he whispered, his lips so close to my ear that it sent a little shiver down my neck. He kissed the side of my jaw, and I chuckled under my breath.

“What's so funny?” he asked.

“Usually, I'm the calm one under pressure,” I said, taking his hand as we headed down the hall. “But now you’re the one soothing me.”

Bryson smiled, his dimple appearing. “I guess we've rubbed off on each other more than we realized,” he said, squeezing my hand. “But don't worry, I'm sure I'll be back to my neurotic self by lunchtime.”

I couldn't help but laugh at that. It was true—Bryson's usual meticulousness seemed to have taken a backseat today, while my typically carefree attitude was nowhere to be found. As we approached the nursery, I found myself fussing with my tie again, smoothing imaginary wrinkles from my shirt.

He noticed and gently batted my hands away. “You look perfect,” he assured me, then added with a wink, “For once.”

I rolled my eyes but felt a smile tugging at my lips. “Hey now, watch it with the 'for once' comments,” I teased back. “I'll have you know I clean up quite nicely when the occasion calls for it.”

We entered Chloe's room, where she was already awake and babbling happily in her crib. Her big blue eyes lit up when she saw us, and she reached out her chubby little arms.

“Good morning, princess,” Bryson cooed, scooping her up. “Are you ready for your big day?”

I watched as he expertly changed her diaper and dressed her in the adorable pale yellow dress we'd picked out for the occasion. His confidence in caring for her had grown so much over the last few months. My heart swelled with love for both of them. How had I gotten so lucky?

“There,” he said, smoothing down her wispy blonde curls. “Perfect.”

I stepped closer, wrapping an arm around his waist and planting a kiss on Chloe's forehead. “You both look perfect,” I said softly.

Bryson leaned into me, and for a moment, we just stood there, the three of us together. A family. My throat tightened with emotion.

“We should get going,” he said after a minute, his voice a little husky. “We don't want to be late.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. We gathered the diaper bag and headed out to the car. As I buckled Chloe into her car seat, I couldn't help but marvel at how much our lives had changed in such a short time. Six months ago, I was a free spirit, traveling the world without a care. Now, here I was, about to become a legal guardian to this precious little girl.

“Oh, by the way, Langston texted this morning to make sure we were still on for tonight. I think it’s sweet that he invited us to dinner to celebrate.”

I nodded weakly. I just hoped we actually had something to celebrate later.

The drive to the courthouse was quiet, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I kept glancing at the baby camera at Chloe, who was contentedly sucking on her pacifier and watching the world go by outside her window. Bryson's hand found mine across the center console, and I intertwined our fingers, drawing strength from his touch.

We arrived at the courthouse with plenty of time to spare. As we walked up the steps, Chloe nestled securely in my arms, I felt a renewed sense of nervousness. But one look at Bryson's reassuring smile steadied me.

Mr. Jenkins met us in the lobby, his briefcase in hand and a confident air about him. “Good morning,” he greeted us warmly. “Are we ready?”

“We are,” Bryson said with absolute certainty. The confidence made me smile, but my stomach churned as I tried to picture the next hour.

“Come on,” he said, gesturing us toward a quieter hallway. “The judge is ready to go. Let's talk for a minute before we get started.” We followed him over to a wooden bench and sat down. “As I mentioned yesterday, the judge may ask each of you to make a statement about your relationship with Chloe and your intentions as guardians. You’re not under oath, but it helps to be honest and direct.”

“Do we both need to speak?” Bryson asked.

“You don’t have to, but I’d recommend it,” Mr. Jenkins said, shifting his focus to me. He gave me an appraising look, like he was reading my anxiety and recalibrating for it. “Brief and heartfelt. That’s the way to go.”

I imagined myself freezing up, mumbling in panic, saying everything except the things that mattered most. It made me dizzy, but then Bryson put his hand on my knee and gave it a squeeze. I took a deep breath, searching for something I hadn’t found all morning: calm, composure, certainty.

“And you’re positive this won’t be a problem?” I asked, my voice cracking.

Mr. Jenkins chuckled. “Positive,” he said. “Zach and Brooke’s wishes were clear—they wanted you both to raise Chloe. She’s been with you for the last six months, and there are no competing claims for guardianship. It’s a slam dunk, as far as these things go.”

I wasn’t sure how much a slam dunk was worth in court, but his assurance helped. I felt my muscles unclench by a fraction. “See?” Bryson said softly, resting his arm against mine.

I reached for his hand and let my fingers settle into the familiar grooves of his. “When do we go in?”

“Let me check,” Mr. Jenkins said. He disappeared into the courtroom for a minute, then emerged with another confident smile. “Right now. Follow me.”

The courtroom had a high ceiling and polished wood paneling that gleamed in the sterile, too-white light. The space was huge but felt cramped with the gravity of what we were doing there. I swallowed hard. Bryson’s hand stayed locked around mine and the familiar weight of Chloe in my arms both acted as a lifeline.

I stayed close as Mr. Jenkins directed us to the table in front. He took his seat, and I slid in beside him while Bryson settled on the other side of me. He reached into the diaper bag and pulled out Chloe’s favorite baby doll. She let out a happy squeal when she saw it and reached for it with grabby hands.

His eyes met mine over top of her head, a single look that conveyed so much. A silent conversation of hope, trust, conviction, and love. Most of all love. My breath caught in my throat at the raw display of emotions, and I felt my eyes well up with tears. I blinked them back, not wanting to break down before we even started.

The bailiff's voice rang out. “All rise. The Honorable Judge Raymond Bauer presiding.”

We stood as an older man with silver hair and kind eyes entered, his black robes swishing as he took his seat at the bench. He smiled at us, his gaze lingering on Chloe for a moment before he addressed the court. “Good morning. We're here today for the matter of guardianship for Chloe Murphy. Let's begin.”

Mr. Jenkins stood, his posture relaxed but professional. “Your Honor, we're here to finalize the permanent guardianship of Chloe Murphy to Tucker Murphy and Bryson Kelly, as specified in the will of her late parents, Zachary and Brooklyn Murphy.”

Judge Bauer nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I see. And how long have Mr. Murphy and Mr. Kelly been caring for the child?”

“Six months, Your Honor,” Mr. Jenkins replied. “Since the tragic passing of Zachary and Brooklyn Murphy.”

The judge made a note on the file before him. “And how has the child been faring?”

“Exceptionally well, Your Honor,” Mr. Jenkins said. “Mr. Murphy and Mr. Kelly have provided a loving, stable home for Chloe. She's thriving under their care.”

“Yes, I have received a full report from Child Protective Services verifying the child’s well-being. It was a rather glowing report indeed. Is there anything you’d like to add to this, Mr. Jenkins?”

“No, Your Honor.”

“Very well,” the judge said, peering over his glasses like he’d done this a thousand times. He marked a few lines in the papers, then addressed us in a kind, if clinical voice. “I’d like to hear directly from the petitioners. Do you wish to make a statement?”

This was it. The moment that mattered more than anything. Bryson stood up and held himself with all the composure and confidence I wished I had. He didn’t look nervous; he looked like he was made for this, like he’d spent his life preparing.

“Go ahead,” the judge prompted, watching Bryson with focused attention.

“I’m Bryson Kelly,” he said, his voice filling the room with steady, resonant sound. “Brooke Murphy was my first friend, my best friend for most of my life, but even more than that, she was my family. When she married Zach, he became my brother and then little Chloe came along and well… she became my goddaughter, my niece. I want to make it clear: Chloe means everything to me. I will do anything and everything to provide for her well-being, to protect her, love her, and to always put her needs above my own.”

I looked at him, astonished by how calm he was. There was no hesitation, no room for doubt. He believed in himself, he believed in us, and he believed in our family.

The judge nodded again, a softer nod than before. “And Mr. Murphy?” he asked, his eyes settling on me. I tried to speak, but my tongue didn’t cooperate. It felt huge and alien in my mouth, and I wondered how Bryson had made it look so easy.

Bryson reached down and touched my shoulder. “You can do this,” he whispered.

Drawing strength from him, I stood. Chloe leaned her head on my shoulder, and I squeezed my eyes shut, kissing her forehead and saying a quick prayer to God and to my brother, asking them to not let me screw this up.

“I’m Tucker Murphy,” I said, surprised by how steady I sounded. “Zach was my brother which makes Chloe my niece. I made a promise to Zach to raise her in a kind, loving home and I intend to keep that promise, to raise her as if my heart depended on it. I will protect, teach, and love her for the rest of my life.”

The judge let out a long breath, like he’d been holding it the whole time. “Thank you both for your candor and for the obvious devotion you have to Chloe,” he said, his voice carrying warmth and weight. “On the basis of the testimony and documentation provided, I hereby grant permanent guardianship to Bryson Kelly and Tucker Murphy.”

The words hit me in a wave, and I couldn’t tell if they were real. Permanent guardianship. To us. They were real, and they were perfect.

Mr. Jenkins grinned like he had expected nothing less. Bryson spun towards me, a triumphant grin on his handsome face as he flung his arms around both of us. Chloe gurgled, her little face scrunching up in delight. We stood there in disbelief, in pure, joyful disbelief.

The courtroom melted away. There was no one but us. I looked at Bryson, and he looked at me, and we both burst out laughing. I don’t know which of us kissed the other first, but it didn’t matter. I wiped at my eyes and gathered Bryson and Chloe close, feeling the first, thrilling sense of forever.

We left the courthouse with the papers tucked neatly into the diaper bag, and a tidal wave of relief crashing over us. I couldn't remember ever being this happy. Everything felt different, lighter, a hundred shades brighter than it had a few hours ago.

The cool stiffness of the courthouse melted into a beautiful late-spring day, with sunlight streaming through the trees and spilling into every corner. I smiled at Bryson, then at Chloe, then back at Bryson. It was like I couldn’t stop smiling even if I tried.

“We’re guardians,” I said, letting the words sink in again. “For real.”

“She’s ours now,” he whispered, gazing at reverently at the little girl in my arms.

I couldn't help but grin at that. “She's been ours for a while now,” I said softly.

I buckled Chloe into her car seat, planting a kiss on her forehead before closing the door. As I turned back to Bryson, I noticed a thoughtful look on his face.

“What's on your mind?” I asked, stepping closer to him.

He glanced at his watch. “We have about an hour before we need to meet Langston at Lucky's for dinner,” he said. “There's something I'd like to do first, if that's okay with you.”

“Sure,” I replied, curious. “What did you have in mind?”

I followed his directions, and in ten minutes we were parking at the quiet cemetery where Zach and Brooke lay side by side. Like the rest of the town, it was small and well maintained, lovingly cared for by its members.

“I’m glad you suggested this,” I said, taking in the peace of the surroundings. “Feels like forever since we’ve been out here.”

“Seemed like the right thing to do,” Bryson replied solemnly.

I unbuckled Chloe and lifted her from the car seat, settling her on my hip while Bryson gathered the flowers we’d picked up at the florists along the way. The sky was a huge stretch of blue overhead, unbroken and calm. There was a comfortable silence between us as we walked along the gravel path towards their plots.

“This is it,” Bryson said, stopping at the low granite marker that read “Zach and Brooke Murphy” in bold, simple letters. He set the bouquet at its base and crouched there, running his fingers over the smooth stone like he was reaching through time and distance to touch them. I knelt beside him, pulling Chloe onto my lap and leaning my shoulder against his.

“Hey, Brooke. Hey, Zach,” I said, feeling a pinch in my heart that was both familiar and welcome. “We wanted to come by and tell you the news ourselves.”

“We did it,” Bryson said, his voice low, full of tenderness. “We got the papers today. Everything went through and we are officially Chloe’s guardians.”

I pictured Brooke’s smile, the way it would light up her whole face. I pictured Zach nodding in his easy, understated way, the gleam in his eye that meant he was proud of me even if he’d never come right out and say it.

“Thank you so much for trusting us with her. We promise to take care of her,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “We'll love her and protect her with everything we have.”

Bryson nodded, his eyes glistening. “We'll make sure she knows how much you loved her, how amazing you both were,” he added. “She'll grow up hearing stories about her brave, kind, wonderful parents.”

I looked down at Chloe, who was contentedly playing with a blade of grass. “We're going to give her the best life we can,” I continued. “We'll be there for every milestone, every triumph, every heartbreak. We'll teach her to be strong, compassionate, and to live life to the fullest—just like you both did.”

Bryson turned his head to look at me, reaching out and taking my hand. “I think... I think they must have known somehow,” he said softly. "“When they chose us to raise Chloe together. They must have seen something in us, something that made them believe we could do this.”

I squeezed his hand, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I think you're right,” I whispered. “They knew we'd be stronger together, that we'd balance each other out.”

We sat in silence for a moment, the gentle breeze rustling the leaves overhead. Chloe babbled softly, reaching out to touch the flowers we'd brought. “Look at her,” he said, his voice filled with wonder. “She has Brooke's eyes and Zach's smile.”

I nodded, feeling a bittersweet ache in my chest. “She does. And she'll have your kindness and my sense of adventure.”

He chuckled softly. “God help us all.”

We fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in our own thoughts. I found myself remembering all the times Zach and I had talked about the future, about settling down and raising families. He'd always been so certain that I would make a great dad someday, even when I couldn't see it myself. Now, holding Chloe and sitting beside Bryson, I realized how right he'd been.

“You know,” I said softly, breaking the quiet, “I think they'd be proud of us. Of how far we've come, of the family we're building.”

Bryson nodded, his eyes misty. “I hope so,” he whispered. “I really hope so.”

I leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his temple. “I know so,” I assured him. “That’s why they trusted us with their most precious gift.”

We lingered there a little longer, making more promises and sharing more memories, before we finally stood to go. I knew we would be back, often and with plenty to tell them, but leaving was still hard.

As we walked back to the car, hand in hand with Chloe between us, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. We'd come so far, Bryson and I, from reluctant guardians to a real family. And somehow, I knew Zach and Brooke were smiling down on us, proud of the life we were building together with their daughter.