Chapter 14 - One Year Later, Emma Took My Hand at Her Birthday Party and Gave Me the Gift I Never ExpectedEmma turned two.
There were balloons everywhere.
Cake.
Music.
Children running through the garden.
Adrian stood beside me.
He looked happier than I'd ever seen him.
Emma walked toward us.
She held a tiny wrapped box.
“For you.”
I opened it.
Inside was a small silver necklace.
A heart.
I started crying.
Adrian smiled.
“She picked it herself.”
I hugged Emma.
“Thank you.”
She kissed my cheek.
Then whispered,
“Mommy.”
I froze.
She had never called me that.
Adrian's eyes filled with tears.
I looked at him.
He nodded.
“If you want it.”
I hugged her tighter.
“I do.”
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And for the first time, I realized I wasn't the woman who had found a baby anymore.
I was her mother in every way that mattered.
