Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Chewing on my nail, we waited for Cord to get Wade.
“Wade! I need you to call Wanda or Mick and tell them that Waylynn and Jonathon want the baby. Yes! Okay, we’re almost there, but call them right after I hang up.”
Amelia hit End and then looked at me. We both stared at each other.
“Oh. My. God. What did we just do?” I asked.
“Not we…you…y’all,” she said, pointing between me and Jonathon with a huge grin. “Y’all just signed up for a baby.”
* * *
Jonathon paced while I sat in the chair with my hands folded in my lap. When the door opened, I stood. A young girl with beautiful dark hair walked into the room. Her warm smile brought tears to my eyes. I couldn’t imagine how hard this must be for her.
“Liberty, this is Waylynn Parker and Jonathon Turner. This is the couple who is interested in adopting your child.”
She glanced over to her lawyer and then at the two of us. “Y’all aren’t married? I thought your paperwork said you were married.”
“Not yet, but we were about to have a civil ceremony tomorrow and had planned on a beach wedding later this year, but then this came up so we’ve put that on hold.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Sitting down in a seat, Jonathon and I sat at the opposite end of the table.
Liberty’s lawyer sat and set a few folders on the table. Our lawyer cleared his throat.
“Good afternoon, my name is Dereck Winters, and I’m the counsel for Ms. Parker and Mr. Turner.”
Liberty’s lawyer stood back up again. “Rider Flynn, and I’m Ms. Wilson’s attorney.”
I couldn’t help it, but I giggled and so did Jonathon. We both tried to hide it. I prayed like hell no one caught the slip.
“It seems to me, Mr. Wilson, that this is cut and dry. Your client will terminate her parental rights, and my clients will petition for adoption. My clients understand that their petition will not be finalized until the child has been in their care for six months, at which time they will present the court with a social study as well as a genetic history. We have already presented the criminal history and will submit an updated report at said time.”
I cleared my throat. “We’d also like to ask Ms. Wilson if she would be interested in an open adoption.”
Liberty looked at her lawyer. It was clear she didn’t understand what that meant. Sitting down, he said, “An open adoption is where the adoptive parents and the birth parents, or parent in this case, would have contact with one another after the child is born.”
Liberty’s mouth opened some before closing abruptly. “You mean, you’d let me see the baby after she’s born?”
Jonathon took my hand in his. I tried to slow my breathing and speak with a calm voice.
“Yes, if you would like.”
When Liberty’s chin trembled, I had to look away. “Mr. Wilson, Mr. Winters, may I please speak with Waylynn and Jonathon alone?”
Both lawyers looked at each other and then to us. Jonathon and I nodded.
“We’ll be outside the door,” Dereck said with an unsure smile.
Once the door shut, Liberty covered her mouth and let a sob slip through. I instantly got up and made my way to her. Sitting next to her, I took her hand in mine.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
She nodded and attempted to get her emotions in check. “Why would you do that? Let me see the baby?”
Lifting my eyes to Jonathon, we smiled. Focusing back on Liberty, I spoke softly. “I won’t pretend to understand how you feel, because I can’t imagine it. I know you read my medical records and you know I had an accident—and a hysterectomy. It was very emotional to find out that I would never be able to carry my own child. So, for you to carry your child, and then give her up…I know it cannot be easy to do. We just want you to know that the open adoption is an option if you choose us as the parents of your child. I don’t have all the details of how we would handle it, or how you would want to handle it, but I feel strongly that we needed to ask you.”
Liberty wiped her tears away and smiled. “I want to go to medical school.”
“That’s amazing, Liberty,” Jonathon said, sitting down on the other side of her. “Your parents must be very proud of you.”
Her smile faded. “My parents disowned me when they found out I’d gotten pregnant.”
My hand covered my mouth in an attempt to hide an angry gasp.
“Your parents disowned you?” Jonathon asked.
She nodded and sighed. Then she looked at me. “You own a dance studio?”
I grinned. “I do. I used to be a dancer in New York City.”
“Wow, that’s pretty neat. The paperwork didn’t mention that.”