“They are two amazing kids,” Ford said.
Sawyer nodded, but he couldn’t let go of the nagging thought that legally their position might be precarious. What if Cynthia got out? What would mean for the future of their family?
“Ford?”
“Yeah?” Ford looked up at him, and Sawyer closed his eyes, battling with himself, but the idea wouldn’t leave him.
“So, how do you feel about adoption?” Sawyer blurted before he chickened out.
Ford’s eyes widened. “You mean… adoption of a baby? Like a baby? Don’t you think it’s too soon with the three kids we have here?”
The baby part didn’t even scare him. Sawyer would happily take in more kids with Ford. “Let’s come back to the baby part, but I meant how would you feel adopting Savanna, Gavin, and Callum?”
Ford pulled back and studied him. “We love them, and I know I couldn’t imagine living without them now.”
“Me neither,” Sawyer said. Also I want to protect them, and that means I want to make sure Cynthia…” He shook his head. “No, I want to protect them and make sure they never doubt that they have us.” He didn’t want to hold anything back from Ford so he added, “I also hate the thought of Cynthia getting out and being able to hold the kids over our heads again, especially if they don’t want to go with her.” Sawyer met Ford’s eyes. “Does that make me a bad person?”
Ford cupped his cheek. “No, at the very least, protecting your kids is the greatest instinct of any parent.” Ford's hand fell to his side and he bit his lips, like he did when he was considering his words carefully, “Don’t you think adoption could complicate things though? What if we’re denied?”
“I doubt that would happen. Cynthia’s parental rights were revoked by the court when they sentenced her this last time. So she couldn’t object if she wanted to. I’ve been appointed the legal guardian by my father’s wishes and the court. She doesn’t want the kids, because if she did, well, none of this would have happened.” Sawyer’s jaw tightened just thinking about everything. “Besides, the charges against her work in our favor.” Sawyer should feel bad saying that, but he didn’t. Savanna, Gavin and Callum belonged with him and Ford. “She may have given birth to them, but that doesn’t mean she’s what's best for them. We are, and we love them like they’re our own. I think we should consider it.”
Ford sealed their lips together in a kiss. When he pulled back, he said, “There’s nothing to consider, I love them, too, so if you’re wondering what I think, I’m on board.” Ford put his head against Sawyer’s heart. “I love you, Sawyer, and I want what’s best for the kids, and I happen to think what’s best is us.”
Ford looked up, and Sawyer’s heart melted. He lowered his head, too, and brushed Ford’s lips in a kiss. He hadn’t doubted Ford for a moment, but still his pulse returned to normal hearing Ford say that.
Sawyer wasn’t sure what his father had in mind leaving the kids to him, but Sawyer wouldn’t change a thing. Even though his life was completely unrecognizable, it was also better than he ever imagined.
Epilogue
Sawyer
One Year and Eight Months Later
Sawyer stood back and looked first at the grand opening sign over the entrance and then to the front of the doors where there was a red ribbon that stretched across them on the outside, ready to be cut.
Even though this wasn’t his first opening, it might be his proudest since it had been done with the whole family involved, and now, they were twenty minutes away from cutting the ribbon.
This was kind of a soft opening for the people who lived in Amber Falls. They had planned this and then sent invitations all in one in a week. But somehow right now, maybe a thousand waited, anxious to get inside.
Ford walked up beside Sawyer and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“This is it.” Sawyer said, his face aching with how much he’d been smiling that day already.
“I know.” Ford shook his head. “I never thought I’d see this day come. But here we are.”
Sawyer grinned. “Yeah. We’re about to show the town what we’ve built. The place that brought us to each other.” He turned to face Ford. “If it fails, then at least I can say that.”
“I’ve never seen so many people.” Gavin walked up to Ford and Sawyer, his eyes shining.
Ford laughed and turned to Sawyer. “I don’t think this place is going to fail.”
“I never thought it would.” Sawyer winked at Ford.
He pulled his coat tighter around him and shivered. It was the perfect day to open. All that was left to do was to swing the doors wide and welcome in their first guests.
“Are you ready?” Sawyer asked.
“You betcha,” Ford nodded smiling.
They went to the doors, and Sawyer turned to Gavin. “Where’s your sister?” he asked.
“I’m here! I’m here!” Savanna hurried forward to one side of the large doors, with Gavin on the other.
“On the count of three,” Ford said.
“One…Two…Three…” Ford and Sawyer said in unison.
Both Gavin and Savanna pulled open their side of the door. The crowd cheered and Sawyer hurried over to the ribbon where there was a microphone set up, waiting for him to make a speech, along with a large pair of scissors that he needed to use for the ribbon cutting. He tested the microphone by tapping the top of it, and a hush fell over the crowd.
“Hello,” Sawyer said, his voice booming through the microphone. “I want to thank everyone for coming out to the Grand Opening of Amber Falls Ski Resort and Lodge. We are happy you could be here. As you enter beyond this ribbon, you will be able to get a map. It shows all the amenities of what the resort has to offer. You can take a self-guided tour, or one of our
