Chapter 29

29

TORI

The immigration officers lean in toward each other and confer in whispers, their mouths shielded by their hands as Luca and I take our seats again.

I look at Luca, my throat still thick with emotion at what just happened. I can’t believe how Zach, Bennett, and Dallin showed up for us. Of all the people I would’ve expected to come barging in today, none of them would have made the list.

And that stack of papers on the table…it’s a representation of all the people rooting for Luca and me. It’s everything.

Preston stands up and straightens his coat. “Thank you for being willing to hear them out, officers. Your patience is much appreciated. We know how important your job is, and like Mr. Moretti said, we aren’t asking you to ignore the ways in which the law was broken. But given the lack of mens rea and taking into account the other things you’ve heard, I believe some leniency is merited.”

The officers share a long, silent look, then the officer on the left fixes his gaze on Luca and me.

“While this has all been highly irregular,” he says, “we appreciate everyone’s statements and the honesty displayed here. We’ll take everything into account as we review the specifics of your case.” His voice is calm but guarded as his gaze fixes on us. “However, Mr. and Mrs. Callahan, I want to make it clear that what you did—regardless of how it happened—does not align with the expectations of the immigration process in this country. Marrying with the intent to secure a visa carries serious implications, and while we acknowledge the information presented, we also have a responsibility to uphold these standards.”

Preston nods. “Absolutely, sir. My clients now fully understand the gravity of their actions, and as you’ve seen, they’ve been forthright and cooperative throughout this process. With their work in the community and the genuineness of their relationship as it stands today, I respectfully ask that they receive a chance to make this right.”

The officer on the right glances at his notes. “You’ve been frank with us, and I’ll return the favor. Even with today’s statements, the decision won’t be an easy one. Law-breaking, even when done with a certain amount of ignorance, requires consequences. This isn’t a typical case of fraud, however, and we don’t see such community advocacy often. But the truth is, we need time to consider everything, and we’d still like to ask a few further questions.”

“Of course,” Preston says. “My clients will be more than happy to provide whatever information will be most helpful in your decision-making process.” He looks to us, and both Luca and I nod.

“Very well,” the officer says. “Let’s proceed, then.”

The truth shall set you free.

That’s what people say, and I have no idea whether it’ll be accurate once these officers make a decision, but it sure feels true. I’m not nervous as Luca and I spend the next hour answering their questions because this time, we don’t have to worry about getting caught in a web of our own making. We can be honest, and that’s something I’ll never take for granted again.

I think these officers sense and appreciate that, but they’ve been clear that there will be consequences, and they have a number of those to choose from. Deportation is still on the table.

“All right,” the officer on the left says, organizing his folder. “That concludes our questions, which means we’ll take a recess while we go over your file and the documentation submitted by Mr. Moretti. You’ll be notified of our decision in writing within two to four weeks. Until then, please refrain from any changes to your current address or employment without notifying USCIS. Whatever our decision, we hope you know we appreciate your honesty today and that the oaths we’ve taken require that our decision be guided by the law.”

That last sentence gets my pulse going. It sounds like they’re trying to prepare us for the worst while softening the blow with a bit of gratitude.

Preston stands and offers his hand to the officers, who shake it politely. “Thank you, officers. We appreciate your professionalism and consideration.”

They nod, and Luca and I stand and shake their hands as well before leaving the room with Preston.

Once the door shuts, Preston faces us and lets out a huge sigh. “Well. That was certainly one-of-a-kind. Not at all what I’d anticipated and probably not what I would’ve counseled. There’s no telling what’ll happen next, but…I think you made the right choice.”

“Me too,” I say, meeting Luca’s gaze.

In fact, I know we did. We made the choice and will live with the consequences of it the same way: together.

It’s a waiting game again now, and in a really strange way, I’m okay with that. While part of me is impatient for news from USCIS, the other part wants them to take their sweet time. Waiting is hard, but it also means nothing has to change yet. It means Luca and I can spend the evenings on our deck, watching the sunset and the moonlight reflecting on the dark waters. It means he gets to keep playing with his teammates and that I get to keep working at Summit Rise.

It means we get to drive up to Monterey and see our brand-new nephew hours after Siena and Jack bring him home from the hospital.

Mom cradles her newest grandbaby, rocking him gently as she paces the living room floor at Siena’s house. “Are you sure you can handle all of us here right now?”

Sitting on the edge of the couch in her living room surrounded by baby equipment, Siena scoffs. “People were in and out of my room every seven seconds at the hospital. Being home is like a spa in comparison. Right, Jack?”

He gives a snort and blinks awake, his head on a throw pillow that’s resting against Siena’s leg. His eyes open wide, and he searches frantically in the blanket draped over him like he’s looking for the baby.

“Relax,” Siena says, putting a hand on his shoulder. “My mom took him the second she arrived.”

Jack stops his search and looks around the room until he finds Mom and his baby. He heaves a sigh and drops back onto the pillow, then rubs his eyes and groans. “How can they send a brand-new human home with parents hallucinating from lack of sleep?”

“My turn, Mom.” I don’t wait for her to answer before slipping my hands under baby Jack Jack and bringing him toward me.

“I didn’t know you guys were here,” Jack says in surprise.

“Couldn’t wait a second longer to meet the newest Sheppard.”

“Allred,” Jack corrects.

I shoot him an unamused look. “I don’t think it’s fair that he gets three of your names.” I stare down into the perfect sleepy face of my nephew while Luca hovers from behind me. “I mean, Jack Jack Allred? It feels like a bit much.”

“His legal name obviously isn’t Jack Jack,” Siena says as the front door opens and Troy, Stevie, and Eden appear.

“Make way!” Troy ducks through the doorway with Eden on his shoulders. “Most important Sheppard grandbaby coming through!”

Stevie rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling.

Troy brings Eden over. “Diiiismount!” He lifts her over his head and holds her normally. “Look, baby girl. It’s fresh meat! I mean”—he shoots a teasing look at Siena—“it’s your cousin Jack Jack.”

Eden is too busy chewing on the neckline of her onesie to spare a glance at him.

Troy laughs and hands Eden off to Luca.

“Sure,” I say dryly. “Hand all the babies off to the childless couple.” Since Mia and Austin announced they’re expecting a couple weeks ago, Luca and I have officially been granted that title. Austin and Mia are here too, but Austin’s keeping her company in the guest bathroom while she gets through a wave of nausea.

“I’ll take a baby,” Dad says eagerly, jogging over to me.

I turn away, protecting Jack Jack from being stolen, so Dad goes for Eden. Luca stiff-arms Dad and makes a half-hearted effort to get away before handing her over reluctantly.

He and Dad laugh while Eden reaches for Luca again.

Luca’s gonna be a great dad.

“What’s the status of your case, Tori?” Jack asks. “Aren’t you supposed to hear back soon?”

“Soon-ish,” I say. “They said two to four weeks. It hasn’t quite been two.”

“Let me know when you hear,” Jack says. “I can’t be exposing Jack Jack to fugitives of the law at this young age, you know.”

I snort softly. Zach sent us copies of the letters my family wrote, and Jack’s made me cry. Whatever he says and however much he pretends to reject the Sheppard mantle, the man would do anything for a Sheppard, including Luca. He’s a help-you-hide-the-dead-body type of guy.

I only get Jack Jack for another two minutes before Stevie steals him away. It’s like my family’s playing a game of hot potato with the babies.

I sit back on the couch and lean into Luca, who slips his phone into his pocket. “Wanna get some fresh air for a minute?” he asks.

I look up at him and search his face, sensing something’s wrong. “Sure.”

He stands, then pulls me up after him, and without saying a word to anyone, we head out through the front door.

“You okay?” I ask as he shuts the door.

“Preston emailed. He got the decision letter.”

My heart kicks into high gear. “Already? Is that good or bad?”

Luca shrugs. “I didn’t open the attachment. We should do it together.”

“Okay,” I say, my breath coming quickly. I look at his pocket, where his phone sits, but he makes no move to pull it out.

“There’s something I wanna do first,” he says.

My brows pull together. What in the world could he want more than to know the results of everything we’ve been working for since March? But I guess we’ve waited this long. Another few minutes won’t hurt. “What is it? How long does it take?”

He smiles at my impatience. “Not long.” He steps toward me, and the way he looks at me sends all thoughts of the immigration letter out of my mind. “I have no clue what that email attachment is going to say, Tori, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing they can say, nothing they can do will keep me from you or you from me.”

I blink quickly. “I know.”

“We got married on a whim. We barely knew each other. We had our first kiss in front of a total stranger. It was weird and rushed and?—”

“A massive disappointment,” I say.

He chuckles. “Thanks for that. But we’ve been through a lot since then. We know each other much better now. We’ve kissed a lot.”

“And yet not enough.”

He smiles. “Can I finish? I’m kind of trying to say something here.”

I roll my lips between my teeth and nod docilely.

“My point is, we’ve been through a lot of craziness. And even though we might read that letter and find out we now have criminal records just after I managed to get mine expunged, I want you to know that I don’t regret any of it. Not a single second.”

I blink away the stinging in the back of my eyes.

“So.” He lowers himself until he’s on his knee, then reaches into his pocket and puts out his palm. In it are the rings we traded the day we got married—his grandparents’ rings. “Will you marry me again, Tori? Will you give me the chance to make those vows again and to mean them this time? To promise everything to you all over again, and to do it in front of the people we care about most?”

My eyes start to fill and my chin trembles as I stare down at him. All I can do is give a watery laugh and nod emphatically, then lower my lips to his.

Mouths locked, he pulls us to our feet and scoops me closer to him.

Whatever’s in that letter, it’s got no power over us.

When I finally pull away, he slides the Amazon ring off my finger and replaces it with the one from his grandma. This time, it fits. He must’ve gotten it resized.

I take his grandpa’s ring and slide it onto his finger.

“What if you do get deported?” I ask.

He thinks for a second. “Destination wedding in Belize?”

“Deportation wedding, more like.” I tip my head to the side. “That kind of has a nice ring to it.”

He smiles, then kisses me again. “Should we read the letter?”

I nod, feeling more ready to accept whatever it says. Ready as I’ll ever be.

“I think we should do it with our family,” he says.

I look into his eyes, my throat thickening. That little our means everything.

“Me too.”

Holding my gaze, he threads his fingers through mine and leads the way inside.

Mia and Austin have emerged, and Austin is fighting with Mom over who gets to hold Jack Jack, while Mia plays pat-a-cake with Eden on the floor.

Siena and Jack have fallen asleep next to each other on the couch.

“Attention!” I say, clapping a few times. “We got the immigration decision.”

It goes dead silent except for Jack’s soft snoring. He and Siena were unfazed by my noise-making. It’s like I transferred some of my sleeping powers to them.

“What’d they say?” Austin looks at us intently as Eden grabs a fistful of his hair and yanks.

“We don’t know,” Luca says. “We wanted to read it with all of you.”

Mom and Dad put their arms around each other’s waists and smile at us. I know they’re nervous. Everyone is.

Except Jack and Siena, apparently.

Troy makes an impatient hand motion. “Don’t keep us waiting.”

Luca pulls his phone out of his pocket and navigates to the email, his other hand still holding mine.

He starts reading:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Callahan,

We have completed a review of your case and, after careful consideration, have reached a determination regarding your application for adjustment of status.

The evidence provided, including community character statements and additional documentation submitted during your recent interview, has been thoroughly evaluated. We acknowledge the good faith cooperation you have demonstrated throughout this process. As a result, we have determined that your application may proceed with the following provisions:

1. Conditional Approval and Fines

USCIS is imposing a fine in the amount of $2500, which must be remitted within 30 days of this notice to complete your adjustment of status. Please contact our office if you require guidance on payment procedures.

I let out a breath of relief. That’s way less than I thought it’d be.

Luca continues:

2. Conditional Residence Status with Monitoring

Mr. Callahan is hereby granted conditional resident status for a period of two years.

Cheers erupt in the room, and Jack and Siena startle awake. There’s a brief delay as they’re looped in on what’s happening. They both clap and cheer, and there’s another delay as Jack Jack’s lip turns down and he starts wailing.

I force Luca to turn the phone screen away from us so he doesn’t cheat and read ahead. But mostly so that I don’t.

During this time, regular assessments of your living and marital arrangements will be conducted by USCIS to ensure the continuity and legitimacy of the marriage.

“That sounds…creepy,” Jack says, cocking a brow. “How exactly do they assess the legitimacy?”

“Ignore him,” I say to Luca, impatient to hear the rest.

3. No Removal Action

Upon satisfaction of the conditions above, no further removal action will be pursued, and Mr. Callahan will be eligible for lawful permanent residency upon successful completion of the monitoring period.

“Blah, blah, blah.” I yank the phone out of Luca’s hand, toss it onto the nearby armchair, and pull him into my arms, relief making its way through my veins to every part of my body.

Troy grabs the phone and continues reading the letter wrap-up while Luca and I hug.

“We did it,” Luca whispers.

“We did.” My chest feels like it might explode with gratitude and joy any second. “Does this mean no deportation wedding?”

His chuckle ruffles the hair around my ear, and his arms squeeze me more tightly. “You can have whatever wedding you want.”

Our hug is rudely interrupted when the entire Sheppard clan—Allreds included—decide they’ve given us enough private time and are now joining in, creating an enormous Sheppard family group hug.

Luca and I are at the center, his arms wrapped around me and mine around him.

“I’m being crushed,” I manage to eke out through ultra-compressed lungs. “Crusher is back.”

“And here to stay,” he says, kissing the only part of my head he can reach.