Chapter 3- I Watched It Begin Again
Ava's P.O.V. –One Week Later
"Ashley and I would be honored to adopt your daughter." Shay says, as she stands in front of a man who she hardly knows. My Father. Andrew Bennet is his name-and although he has made sure that I've had food, clothes, occasional laughs, toys, and finished homework every night—things have been different ever since he met Claire. Dad hardly pays attention to me anymore, it's like that woman has him under her spell or something. Whatever the case, Shay seems to be slightly nervous around my Father. And I don't blame her, not one little bit.
Her nerves are eased when Ashley comes back from the bathroom down the hall of the house. The blonde kisses her fiancée quickly on the lips, and holds out her own hand, introducing herself to Andrew. My father smiles at her. He talks to all three of us about how worried he claims he was when I ran away and Shay and Ash took me in. He says he was on the verge of filling a Missing Person's Report. Somehow, I don't believe that, and neither do the women sitting across from me in the living room. As I said, even though he provided me with all of my needs and alot of my wants until now, my dad regards parenting as a burdensome duty rather than a gift.
Even so, he went on talking. "Well, giving Ava up Alter my life in a major way. She is my only daughter, my only child period. And she's just eleven years old." He Squeezes my hand and picks up a picture of Claire, his fiancée, who was now at work. He sighed, and opened his mouth to speak. "However, at this time in my life, I am not able to give my little girl everything she needs." He pauses, setting the picture down, and fixing his glare on Ashley and Shay. "I know that she adores you both, and I can see how in love the two of you are." My dad smiles, perhaps the most genuine smile he's had in a long time without Claire in the room. He then gestures toward the two women's hands that are entangled together, along with the sparkling diamond engagement rings on their fingers.
After a moment of silence, Shay speaks. "Thank you, we are. That means so much to us." She smiles. "So, do we have a chance at making Ava a part of our soon-to-be family?" My father stands, nodding his head in a 'yes'. He speaks again. "Ava needs a loving and stable family environment, especially in a couple of years, when she becomes a teenager."
Ashley begins to get restless at this point, weary of the anticipation. "So, that means?" She asks. Andrew chuckles at her eagerness. "Yes. There is no reason why the three of you can't be a family. I will sign the adoption papers just as soon as we can get them authorized, and I will work on setting a court date."
In that instant, Everyones' eyes lit up with happiness. We were all thrilled, anxious to go to court and make it official.
The Court Hearing, on the day of the Mitchells' Wedding—Near the End
"And so, taking the adoption consent of the girl's biological father into consideration, I have decided that Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Benson shall be granted full custody and legal responsibility of Ava." The Judge explains, as he clears his throat. I smile, wider than I ever have before, and he continues. "The girl shall, hence forth and forever, be known as Ava Michaela Mitchell. She shall live with the Mitchells' from this day forward."
I rise from my seat and hug Shay and Ashley very tightly. I'm overjoyed, but at the same time, a million questions race through my mind. Will I ever see my Dad again? What about my old school? I was supposed to go to Simi Valley Middle School next fall, until Claire came along with other plans. Now that I'm officially Shay and Ashley's daughter, will I still be able to go to Simi Valley Middle? Or will I have to go to some fancy school in the heart of Hollywood, Where I don't know anybody? And on top of all that, will I have to call them-the two people who I've loved and admired for the past year as just Ashley and Shay—my Moms?
I know the answer to none of these questions. But as I sign my new name-Ava Michaela Mitchell-On the legal forms, in that perfect, bubbly, teenage handwriting that I already possess, I know that my life will be more amazing than I could ever imagine. and I love Shay and Ashley –or my Moms—or whoever they are with all of my heart.
And they Love me too. I stare at them. Shay in her light pink wedding gown, and Ashley in white, with immense love on their faces and joy in their hearts. I watch now, as they share a passionate kiss. This was, without a doubt, the best day of my life.
And On A Saturday, in a Courtroom… I watched it Begin Again.
CHAPTER 3! :)) Yay! Shay, Ashley, and Ava are officially a family! PLEASE REVIEW And Let Me Know what you think & what you would like to see in the next chapter!
P.S. –I'm sorry it took me so long to post this one, I've just been busy with school and homework… trying to recover my credits and such. No matter what though, I will always make time to write! It's what I love :3 Anyway, Until Next Chapter :))
~LittleLiarLovesEmily
