Page 77 of Healing Fate

“No, I’m not. Because I get you and Vada. That’s all I’ll ever need.”

She reached over and took my hand, but I didn’t miss the way she tried to wipe her cheek without me noticing.

“Look,” I said as I pulled in and parked in front of the restaurant. “You said you were ready to move forward by moving in with me. I have one stipulation.”

“I’m listening.”

“It’s all or nothing, Luce. That means I’m adding you to my bank account so you do not ever have to worry about finances again. The house, the vehicles, all of it, in both our names. I’m asking for a full commitment. We may not have sealed our bond officially yet due to circumstances out of our control, but in my heart it’s already a done deal.”

“What do you get out of this deal?”

I side-eyed her. “Really?”

“I know, me and Vada, but really, Micah, I don’t have much more than that to bring to the table here. It’s not an equal balance.”

“You’re my mate, Lucy. None of that matters.”

“I was raised to pull my own weight. I know it’s just me being prideful, but I want to be equal partners with you in life. Equal. Can you understand that?”

“Okay,” I said. “You want to contribute something more. I can respect that. But remember, I wasn’t going to bring this up, not yet, but you asked what you can contribute. There’s one thing I want more than anything and only you can give it to me.”

I could see her wracking her brain trying to think of something.

“What? I don’t have anything.”

“You have everything,” I insisted.

“So what is it you want more than anything?”

I turned and really looked at her. I needed her to know just how serious I was.

“Once we’re fully mated, I want to legally adopt Vada. That’s something only you can give me, Lucy.”

This time I was the one nervously waiting on her response.

When she didn’t answer right away, I started talking more.

“Just hear me out. It makes sense. It will secure her future. If, God forbid, anything happens to you before our bond is fully sealed, she’ll be protected. I mean, it’s not like I wouldn’t do that anyway, but I mean legally protected. In my heart, she’s as much mine as you are.”

She stared at me on the verge of hyperventilating.

“You’re serious? You want to adopt my daughter?”

“Yes,” I blurted out and then reconsidered when she burst into tears.

I pulled her into my arms feeling so helpless. I didn’t know what to do.

“You want to claim Vada, too?”

“Of course I do. I’m the only father she’s ever going to know.”

Lucy sobbed in my arms as I held her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d be so shocked or upset by it. You don’t have to make a decision right this second. Just please, think about it?”

Lucy

Chapter 19