Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Two months later…

"Welcome to your new home, Joey," Aaron said, opening the door to his house. Maggie released the little boy's hand so he could run inside to check the place out.

"Where's my room?" Joey demanded, wearing his new winter coat. Aaron knew Maggie had loved buying new things for the little boy.

"This way." Aaron walked down the hall to one of two bedrooms that had already been decorated with Joey's living there in mind. The bedspread featured his favorite movie, Cars , but there were other movie posters on the wall, along with a tall bookcase filled with children's books. Maggie had taken to reading to Joey before bed, and the boy was already learning his letters and numbers.

He was bright and eager to learn. Not that he and Maggie were biased, he thought with a wry smile.

In January, Joey would start a pre-K program when Maggie went back to work part time as an anesthesiologist for Children's Memorial Hospital. Aaron had announced his intention to step down from his chairmanship position, but his chief of staff, Rob Kent, was doing his best to talk him out of it. Dale Fullerton had resigned, and Aaron had decided to wait until they had his replacement on board before making his final decision.

Still, he was trying to do a better job of delegating patient care responsibilities to spend quality time with his family. Never again did he want to take Maggie for granted.

"Wow." Joey's eyes were wide as he surveyed the room. Then the little boy looked up at him. "Am I staying here forever?"

"Yes, Joey." Aaron dropped to one knee beside him. He and Maggie had gotten remarried in his parents' church and had attended foster care classes together. Yesterday, they'd been granted permission to take Joey on as a permanent foster child, with the wheels in motion to formally adopt him. Thankfully, Oliver Chism had signed away his rights, especially after getting arrested a second time for armed robbery. The reason he'd wanted money? To buy drugs. That had been the last straw. The coast was clear for them to move forward with the adoption as Joey didn't have any other family members.

But he didn't want to confuse the little boy with all the legalities of their situation. "You're staying with us forever."

"And you're gonna be my mom and dad?" Joey pressed.

"Yes. But if you would rather call us Maggie and Aaron, that's okay too," Maggie said, crouching on the other side of the little boy. "We don't mind as long as you're happy."

"Okay." Joey didn't elaborate but rushed over to jump on his bed. "How come I don't get a TV in my room?"

"Because you have books," Maggie said, slowly rising to her feet. Aaron stood too. He wrapped his arm around her waist and hugged her close.

"But you said I can still watch Disney, right?" Joey asked, his expression earnest.

"Yes, but not in your room. And only when we say it's okay." Maggie's tone was firm, and Joey seemed to sense there was no point in arguing.

"Oh, that reminds me, there's a new playground outside too. Come on, I'll show you." Aaron led the way back through the open-concept kitchen and living area to the patio door that led outside to the backyard. The chilly November air didn't invite lengthy playtime outside, but the wide grin on Joey's face as he ran toward the new swing set made him glad he'd thought to get the playset installed before the snow fell.

"I love it! Mom and Dad, look at me!" Joey said with glee.

His heart swelled with love for the little boy. Not that raising a four-year-old was always easy. But he was secretly thrilled the little boy had called them Mom and Dad.

"This is our first day together as a family," Maggie whispered as Joey waved at them from the top of the slide. The little boy went down on his bottom, laughed, then went around to do it again. "Thank you for everything, Aaron."

"Thank you for giving me a second chance." He stole a quick kiss, secretly thrilled to have Maggie back where she belonged.

At his side, facing a bright future. Together.