Chapter 14 - THE ORDER THAT DIDN’T SEPARATE ANYONE
The courtroom was fuller for the adoption than it had been for the emergency placement.
Lacey came.
Carol Nolan came from Iowa.
Daniel’s employer sent his supervisor.
Mara and Thomas sat in the back.
Judge Miller wore the same severe expression that had frightened Daniel eleven months earlier.
The children were not afraid of her anymore.
Jonah waved.
Judge Miller waved back before catching herself.
The adoption worker summarized the case.
Teresa Nolan’s expressed preference.
Daniel’s prior relationship with the children.
His completed foster licensing.
Eleven months of successful placement.
School stability.
Medical care.
Therapy.
Financial planning.
Sibling bonds.
Continued connections with Teresa’s family.
The judge asked Daniel to stand.
He did.
Five children immediately stood too because they thought they were supposed to.
Everyone laughed.
Even Lawson.
Judge Miller looked at them for a long moment.
“The court’s task was never to reward Mr. Carter for what happened to him as a child,” she said. “And it was never to repair that history through these children.”
Daniel felt Mara’s eyes on him.
“The task was to determine whether these five children could be safe, stable, loved, and allowed to remain siblings in his care.”
She signed.
The adoption became final.
No one applauded until the judge smiled and said they could.
Then the courtroom broke open.
Maya jumped into Daniel’s arms.
Jonah hugged his leg.
Lacey cried.
Carol wiped her face with both hands.
Eli remained still.
Daniel did not pull him closer.
After almost a minute, Eli walked over.
“Daniel?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we go home now?”
Daniel smiled.
“Yeah.”
Eli took his hand.
That was enough.
As they turned toward the aisle, Daniel saw Mara touching the old hospital bracelet on her wrist.
Beside her, Thomas stared at the floor.
May you like
The Nolan siblings had reached their ending.
The Carter siblings had barely reached a beginning.
