Page 145 of Made for Mayhem

“And your answer?”

He looked at me. Then at Junie.

“Yes,” he said, stronger. “If she wants me, I would love to be her dad.”

Junie nodded so hard her glasses nearly fell off.

The judge’s grin widened. “Well then, this is a fun surprise. Given that all legal criteria are met and CPS recommends permanency, I see no reason to delay.”

He gestured for Junie to come forward. She vaulted over the bench in front of her, rubber boots squeaking against the wooden floors as she sprinted into Ty’s arms. He caught her and lifted her up, holding her as if she was the most precious thing in the world.

I stepped beside them, smoothing her hair, feeling the three of us form a tight circle at the front of the courtroom.

The judge leaned forward over his bench until he was eye level with Junie. “Juniper, is it your wish to be adopted by Mr. Hudson as your legal father?”

“Yes,” she breathed, then squeezed her arms around Ty’s neck tighter. “He already is.”

Ty made a broken sound, forehead pressed to hers.

The judge turned to me. “And Ms. Winslow, do you wish to continue as Juniper’s legal guardian—her aunt, her family—with Mr. Hudson?”

Junie reached back and threw an arm around my neck, pulling me into their little group hug. “Yes,” I said, rubbing a hand up and down her back. “Always.”

The judge picked up his pen.

“Then, by the authority of the State of Colorado, I grant the adoption of Juniper Winslow to Ty Hudson, with joint legal guardianship retained by Daisy Winslow.”

The gavel came down, making it official.

Junie wrapped her arms around both our necks, shaking with relief and joy. “We’re a family,” she whispered. “My family.”

Ty kissed her forehead. I kissed her cheek. And for the first time since Violet died, the world didn’t feel sharp.

It felt different, changed, made anew.

36

The gavel was still echoing when my knees went weak.

Adoption.

Father.

Permanent.

Words I’d never dared to imagine for myself.

But then Junie threw her arms around my neck and whispered, “My family,” and something inside me cracked open so wide I wasn’t sure it would ever close again.

The judge said a few more things, but it all sounded like a radio underwater. I just kept holding Junie, breathing her in, feeling Daisy’s hand on my back like an anchor keeping me upright.

When we stepped into the hallway, the air had changed. The door clicked shut behind us, muting the courtroom and all the noise inside my chest.

Emmy bounced up and down, eyes glassy as she held her hands out for a hug. I went right to her, letting my sister wrap me in her arms. Together we shook with silent tears, her hand stroking up and down my back. “I am so proud of you, Ty. You are one of the best men I know, and no one will love that little girl more than you.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

Junie launched herself at our legs, wrapping her arms around us. “Should I call you Aunt Emmy now?”