Bonnie

Bonnie smoothed the front of her skirt. There wasn’t a wrinkle to be found on the soft gray fabric, but she smoothed it anyway. It helped calm her nerves.

“We’re up,” a lawyer told her. The man carried himself with such ease in the courthouse. He knew where to go, where to stand, how to dress. The lawyer knew the name of the security at the front entrance even. He was comfortable. Confident.

Bonnie was not.

“It’ll be fine,” Dylan whispered, taking her hand in his. He gave her a gentle squeeze. She nodded. She was afraid if she opened her mouth, she’d throw up. That would definitely be worse than a wrinkled skirt.

Dylan held her hand as they walked into the courtroom. She was glad he was there. She was glad that Dylan was with her for this. They’d started this as a couple. It was best they finished it as a couple.

The carpet was some sort of gray-green mixture. Two wooden tables sat before the judge. A stern looking woman looked out over her tall wooden bench at the two of them. She had strict eyes, and the state seal loomed over her like a watchful guardian.

Bonnie swallowed hard. She could do this.

She stood before the judge, Dylan beside her as Tyson was brought into the room.

As soon as he saw the two of them, his small face lit up with a bright smile.

Today was the day they were going to officially adopt him.

“This is Docket FA148-09. We’ll start by swearing in your clients,” the judge said. When she smiled, her whole demeanor changed. She was no longer intimidating, but she was excited. She was excited to help Dylan and Bonnie legally adopt Tyson. She was making a family.

The lawyer had prepped Bonnie. She would swear in and then answer a series of questions. Dylan would do the same. Today was supposed to be easier than the trial Brett had participated in. Bonnie had stayed far away from New Jersey while the Trio was on trial. They were all in jail now and no longer even considered a player in organized crime. Brett’s testimony, as well as Bonnie’s against the driver, had destroyed them.

She grinned as she looked at the judge. This time, she was excited to be in a courtroom.

“Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?”

“Yes.” Her voice was solid.

“State your name for the record, please,” the judge requested.

“My name is Bonnie Abbott,” she replied. She liked the way it sounded as it came off her tongue. She was still getting used to the new name, but it fit her well. She liked being Bonnie Abbott.

“Thank you, Mrs. Abbott,” the lawyer told her. “I’m going to ask you some questions about the adoption. Is the child you are here to adopt named Tyson Moss?”

“Yes.” She grinned at Tyson, and he grinned back. He looked so professional in his dress shirt and tie.

“Are you married to Mr. Dylan Abbott?” the lawyer asked.

“Yes.” Dylan squeezed her hand and smiled.

It had been just a small ceremony at the ranch. She’d worn a simple white dress, and her parents had flown in from Europe. Brett was there, wearing his brand new police uniform. He’d joined the police academy once the murder trial was over. He was happy, and so was Bonnie.

“Do you have secure employment?” the lawyer asked.

“I do. I work at Mountain Hope Ranch as a teacher,” she replied.

“And as you are married to Mr. Abbott, I’m sure you are financially stable,” the judge responded with a chuckle.

“Do you have a place for you and the children to live?”

She grinned. “Yes.”

It was in the town of Silver Springs, just up the road from the ranch. Dylan bought it for her as a wedding gift. It overlooked the city and had mountain views. Plus, there were three bedrooms for future children.

“Would you like to change the child’s name?”

“Yes. We’d like to change his name to Tyson Abbott,” she replied. That was a good name, too. She and Tyson were both Abbotts now. It felt right.

“Mr. Abbott, you will now answer the same questions,” the lawyer announced.

Dylan sounded more confident than Bonnie did as he gave his answers. He couldn’t stop smiling at her and Tyson as each question was asked.

“And now, Tyson.” The lawyer smiled at the bubbly little boy bouncing up and down on the seat next to him. “Tyson, do you know why you are here today?”

“Yes. I’m here to be adopted!” He had a smile on his face from end-to-end.

The judge grinned at him.

“What does it mean to you to be adopted?” the lawyer asked.

“It means I get to have them be my real parents,” Tyson replied. He wiggled in his seat with excitement. “It means we’re a forever family.”

“Do you want to be adopted by the Abbotts today and do you want your name to be changed?” the lawyer asked.

“Yes and yes.” Tyson froze. “I mean, yes, sir.”

The lawyer chuckled. “What’s your name going to be?”

“Tyson Abbott.” Tyson beamed as he said it. “I’m going to be Tyson Abbott.”

“Okay, thank you, Tyson.” The lawyer patted Tyson’s shoulder. “I have no further questions, Your Honor.”

The judge sifted through the paperwork on her desk.

“Okay, I have here a properly filed petition for the adoption of the child. Also based on the testimony and the report that I have from the Division of Youth and Family Services, which recommends the finalization of the adoption, I will enter a judgment of adoption today. This will establish the same relationship between the children and the adopting parents as if the child had been born to the adopting parents.” The Judge set her paperwork to the side and beamed at the new family. “Congratulations.”

Dylan hugged Tyson close to him, wrapping his arms around the boy and Bonnie. Bonnie’s heart felt like it was going to burst with joy. She thought the joy she’d felt at her wedding was too great to bear. This was more. Every fiber of her being was beyond joyful.

They were a family.

Dylan kissed her cheek, and she held her two boys closer to her.

The love that they shared would go on forever. It was an endless kind of love.