Chapter 4: Becoming a Family Again
Two years passed.
The nightmares became less frequent.
Lily gained weight and filled the house with laughter.
Drew's leg healed completely.
He joined a youth baseball league and proudly showed Peter every report card.
One Saturday morning, Peter drove them to the cemetery.
Aaron's headstone overlooked a quiet field of oak trees.
Drew knelt first.
"We're okay now, Dad."
Lily carefully placed fresh wildflowers beside the stone.
Peter stood silently until Drew looked up.
"Would Dad be happy?"
Peter smiled.
"He'd be unbelievably proud of both of you."
Then Drew asked a question Peter had secretly hoped for.
"Can we stay with you forever?"
Peter looked at both children.
"If that's what you want..."
They both nodded before he finished speaking.
"Then forever it is."
Several months later, the adoption hearing lasted less than twenty minutes.
The judge smiled warmly.
"I understand both children have something they'd like to say."
Lily hugged Peter's neck.
"I already call him Uncle Dad."
The courtroom laughed softly.
Drew looked directly at Peter.
"I don't need another father."
He paused.
"I just need the family Dad wanted me to have."
Peter couldn't stop the tears.
Neither could anyone else.
May you like
The judge signed the final papers.
The Calders were a family again.
