Meant To Be Family (Meant To Be Series Book 3)
Page 22
“Don’t worry, gorgeous. I’ve got other ideas.” He winked and joined the kids, already grabbing for the tag.
“It’s for both of us?” Logan furrowed his brow and looked between Connor and Kelsey. “And it’s from ‘Not Santa.’”
Kelsey rolled her eyes and pursed her lips as she glared at Connor. She bit back all the things she wanted to say, mostly that he was never allowed to be in charge of gifts again. She dropped her gaze to where Logan and Cassidy knelt beside the huge box and softened her expression. “Then you both better open it.”
Paper flew in the confines of the closet, and the loud screams echoed in the small space. A golden head and pink tongue popped up from inside the box.
“It’s a puppy,” was shouted in unison followed by peals of laughter as the dog proceeded to lick both Logan and Cassidy’s face.
Connor looked up at Kelsey for a second, and the same doubt churning inside her was etched across his face. He turned back to the kids and smiled. “Looks like he has something around his neck.”
Cassidy reached into the box and pulled the wiggly puppy out then carefully untied the red ribbon holding the rolled up paper to his collar. She unfolded it, and her eyes grew as they read the words. “You…want to adopt us? Like, forever?”
Kelsey dropped to her knees on the floor beside Connor and the kids and slid her hand into his as she nodded. “Yes. That’s the petition that we can send in if you want us to. We want to be your family. Forever.”
Less than a second passed before Cassidy launched herself at them, wrapping one arm around each of their necks. She sobbed hard against Kelsey’s shoulder, mumbling something completely incoherent.
Kelsey gently rubbed the young girl’s spine with one hand and swiped at her own tears with the other. “Is that a yes?”
Cassidy pulled back and looked at her brother before turning back to Connor and Kelsey. She nodded her head vigorously. “Yes.”
She tightened her hold on Kelsey again, and Connor pulled Logan close, wrapping them all in a firm embrace. “See,” he whispered close to Kelsey’s ear, “I told you. We were meant to be a family.”
The End
Acknowledgements
For my Double A Team, the reason I do everything, including breathe.
To my fur babies who know exactly when to snuggle me through the plot holes and writer’s block that make my eyes leak.
A special thanks to Nancy for being a fountain of information as I researched the foster and adoption processes and regulations in North Carolina to give as much legitimacy as possible to Kelsey and Connor’s story. Thank you so much for your openness and caring.
As always to my beloved hashtags and the brilliant ladies attached to them:
My #RChat lovelies, you are the reason I have a single book, much less a series. Your endless support and the lessons you’ve taught me have shaped my writing life. I could not have done this without you. I adore seeing every member spreading their writerly wings and soaring to amazing heights.
My #BoardmanBitches Evie & Hannah, I can never thank you enough for living close enough to make the real life struggles bearable.
My #MDO darlings Evie, Marit, and Meka, our inappropriate jokes, half (or more than half) naked men, and adult toy discussions give me life.
As always, I have to end with all the gratitude in the world for Evie Drae, the person—MY person—who refuses to allow me to quit, tells me breaks are okay, and shines a constant light when I can’t see it on my own. All of that while crafting her own brilliant, stunning, and award-winning words. Evie, I can never thank you enough for being you, for being here, and for being mine.
About the Author
Books, coffee, and chocolate make up both the heart and body mass that is better known as Amelia Foster. She has been a lifelong lover of the written word, both as a reader and an author, and completed her first manuscript at the ripe old age of five complete with illustrations. Sadly, her art was a medium that never improved over time although thankfully her writing has.
From sweet to salacious the only requirement Amelia has in books she reads–and definitely in the ones she crafts–is an excessively satisfying happily ever after…and then a little bit more.
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