Page 98 of Second Dance
Grace’s eyes went shiny, her lower lip trembling just slightly before she grinned. “She’s crazy about you. I mean, it’s almost nauseating, but it isn’t—because I love you too.”
I laughed softly, a wave of relief washing through me. “I’m glad to hear that. And I love you too.”
She hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of the puzzle box. “Can I ask you something, though?”
“Of course.”
“When you were in court with Bella and Peter, and the judge said you were their dad … would you ever want to do that with me too? Like, adopt me someday?”
For a moment, I couldn’t speak. Her question hit straight to the center of me. “It’s funny you should ask that,” I said. “Because Peter and Bella suggested that very thing.”
“They did?” Grace’s blue eyes grew even bigger. “They wouldn’t mind?”
“They were worried you’d feel left out.”
Her eyes filled, and she blinked quickly, smiling through it. “That’s so sweet of them. But what about you? Do you want me? Will you be my dad for real?”
“Grace, there’s not a thing I want more in this world than to bring you and Gillian into our lives permanently. With or without a formal adoption, we’ll be a family. But if it’s important to you, then I’m all in.”
“When I prayed for someone for mom and a dad for me, it was for someone just like you. And then you showed up, and everything’s so much better. How soon will you adopt me?”
“As soon as humanly possible.”
“Really?” Grace asked.
“Really.”
She got up from her side of the table and threw her arms around my middle, surprising me with the force of it. I held her tight, breathing in the scent of coconut shampoo and sunshine.
“Will you come to my plays, like you do Peter and Bella’s games?”
“I won’t miss a thing,” I said. “Not a play or a dance recital or whatever else you choose to do. I’ll even run lines with you.”
Grace giggled. “That will be awesome. I had a dream you were in the front row of my play, sitting next to my mom. I woke up with this warm feeling in my stomach.”
“A premonition, then. Because I’ll be there.”
20
GILLIAN
Love Will Find Its Way Home
Written and performed by Eli Winters
Verse 1
The road was long, the nights were cold,
I lost my way, I lost my hold.
But through the dark, your voice still shone,
A whispered light that led me home.
Chorus
Love don't need a map or plan,
