I looked at the faces of my students. Hunter sat in the back of the classroom. His hair was combed today and he was smudge-free. I smiled, knowing it was because I had made him soak extra long in the tub before school.
Hawk had made him special pancakes shaped like footballs. And he had the best lunch of any child here. Not that I was bragging, but we had done everything we could to make sure his Monday was the best start to the week.
I was worried he would fall back into that slump of depression again. But so far he seemed bright-eyed and excited about the day.
I’d heard him tell more than one of the other students about his day at the game. I worried about that football. He kept it tucked under his arm and it was resting on his desk. What if he lost it? What if one of the other kids took it?
The children were busy working on their spelling words for the week. We had moved into some three syllable words and I knew it was a big challenge.
Hunter stuck his tongue out, focusing on his paper.
My heart did this little pitter patter thing when I looked at him. Why couldn’t every day be like yesterday? It felt right. The game. Waiting for Hawk afterward. The three of us having dinner. And then once Hunter was asleep, we had all the time we wanted together, exploring and devouring each other’s bodies.
Did life actually get better than this? I was sleeping with a man built like a god. A man who couldn’t stop pleasing me. And I had this child in my life who’d stolen my heart. There was a reason we had all come together.
One of the children raised their hands. “Miss Bristow, what if we can’t get one?”
I walked over to her desk. “It’s not a test, Kimmy. Just write them three times each.” I pointed to the columns on her spelling journal.
I walked back to the front of the class when I spotted Hawk on the field.
What was he doing here? He wasn’t supposed to show up until after school.
“Keep working, kids. I have to check on something in the hall.” I eyed them, but they looked intense.
I tiptoed along the hall, careful not to let my heels touch. Just as I was going out the door to the playground, Hawk walked in.
“Hey, baby.”
I grinned. “What are you doing here?”
He held up a folder. “I couldn’t wait.”
“Wait for what?”
I could see the excitement on his face.
“I thought it would take longer. I mean, it is going to take a long time. I know that. But I thought it would be longer before I had the information.”
“Hawk, slow down. What are you talking about?”
He handed the file to me. I flipped open the cover.
I read the title of the document. My eyes darted to his. “What is this?”
“It’s for Hunter.”
I closed my eyes and reached out so I didn’t fall. My knees suddenly forgot how to hold me up.
“Whoa.” Hawk steadied my arm. “You ok?”
“I don’t get it.”
“I asked Savannah to find out what I would have to do to get legal guardianship of Hunter. To adopt him. And she got all the paperwork together. I haven’t started it yet, but she says I meet the criteria. I can apply to be his guardian.”
“Just like that?” I asked, stupefied by every word coming out of his mouth.
“Just like that.” He grinned. “And it might help that she knows some people and I happen to have millions of dollars to speed the lawyer part along.”