A Million Wishes (36 page)

“
Yes.”

“
If I ask you the same questions, would you have the same answers?”

“
Yes.”

“
Thank you. I have no further questions Your Honor.”

The judge looked over at the kids and smiled warmly. “Now I’d like to take a little time to talk to the children…or teens in this matter.”

“
I’m just going to ask you a few questions. Does each of you understand what it means to be adopted?”

A chorus of “Yes Sir...” resounded with Delilah chipping in “It means we’ll be a forever family Judge.”

“
Yes it does Delilah. Do the three of you all want to be adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Cane?”

Another chorus of yes’s was like music to Miki and Noah’s ears. According to the sniffles in the room Miki wasn’t the only one crying happy tears.

“
Would you each like to change your last name to Cane?”

Another chorus of yes’s rang out.

The judge laughed and stacked his papers, looking around the room.

“
The court has reviewed the file sent by the Division of Youth and Family Services. DYFS approves of the adoption, and after the questions answered today in this review, I also approve of these adoptions.”

There was a loud burst of clapping and cheers in the room, but quieted instantly when the judge held up his hand.

“
On this day, November 16, 2006 I hereby judge and decree this adoption granted. These children are now the adopted children of the petitioners and will be treated in all lawful respects as their own lawful children and all rights that entails. These children’s last names will hence forth be Dakota Owen Cane, Dominic Elijah Cane and Delilah Rose Cane. You are now a forever family.”

Miki was crying when the kids surrounded her and Noah, hugging them. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. She asked the judge if they could all have a picture taken with him, so the next 15 minutes or so they took family photos before heading out into the cold again to go eat at the restaurant for brunch.

Once they got home and changed into comfortable clothing Miki had the kids carry the ice cream and cake downstairs to the game room so they could set up for the party. She had already set up the tables and chairs the night before with Noah, carefully putting table cloths on the tables and tying balloons to each chair. There were disposable Polaroid cameras on the tables so everyone could take pictures and pin them to the cork board along one wall. The cake she had ordered was a delicious creation. Half red velvet and half marble with a delicious cream cheese icing. There was chocolate drizzled down the sides and the top was full of white and milk chocolate curls and chunks of chocolate candies.

There was a platter of chocolate dipped strawberries next to the cake and a bowl of fresh fruit that she and Lilah had prepared the night before. Lilah had said their Mom used to make a punch with sherbet, 7up, and ginger ale so Miki had purchased the things she needed and was getting them out for Lilah when people started arriving.

So much love, joy and laughter filled her ears and soothed her heart. Family. Tears slipped down her cheeks while she was trying to scoop the sherbet for the punch bowl when the kids surrounded her and hugged her all at once.

“
We love you Momma.” The chorus of love was the sweetest music she had ever heard. Never had she dreamed her heart would be so full to the point of over flowing but it was. “I love y’all too.”

Noah came up and scooped them all into his arms and grinned “Hey Dad needs some love too!”

Laughter along with teasing little taunts to each other had them laughing together. Dominic taking over scooping the sherbet while Lilah poured in the soda. Dakota was picking off pieces of candy from the cake while she playfully swatted his hand. Noah was sneaking a chocolate strawberry when she grabbed his wrist and pulled it to her mouth and bit the end of the strawberry and winked at him. She was rewarded with a dramatic swoop in his arms where he kissed her silly, getting enthusiastic responses by hoots and hollers in the room cheering him on. She was a lucky girl. Overwhelmingly blessed. Stupendously happy. So many wishes fulfilled. At least a million. It seemed like it anyways.

Coming in the Summer of 2012

Book 2 in the “Wishes” Series by DeAnna Felthauser

“
Reflecting on Wishes”

Dakota’s story