Disclaimer: See part one
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The four talked quietly as they approached Judge Brown's chambers. Andrew Brown was a friend of both Kristin and Nathan's so this should go fairly quickly. They entered the office and found a large round table in the middle of the room with 5 chairs. Each took a seat and waited patiently for the Judge. Several minutes later a large lightly overweight man finishing the last puff on a cigar. He looked over at the group and smiled. After putting out the cigar he came around and shook Nathan's hand. "Nathan, it is so good to see you again. I see you are doing well with a growing family."
"I'm doing great Andrew. It has been a very hectic tour and now with the family growing and the boat under construction it ought to be fun. Glad to see you're well also."
Nodding the older man came over toward Kristin who stood and reached out and hugged him. Pulling back Judge Brown said, "Kris, it is great to see you again. I'm glad it's under happier circumstances this time."
"Me too Andrew. I hope we never meet like that again. Speaking of which I thought you told me you were going to quit the cigars. Why haven't you?"
Shaking his head he said, "I'm going to Kris, honest. It just takes time. You wouldn't want me to quit cold turkey would you?"
She sat back down as Andrew moved next to her, "Yes. As opposed to ending up in my ER again, I might decide to keep you next time."
Seeing the older man laugh she said, "I want you to promise that you will quit by it's time for your physical in 4 months."
He nodded and said, "All right you win, you always win. Now why don't you introduce me to the pretty young lady and the handsome young man with you."
Nathan did the introductions for Lucas and Kristin introduced Mandy. Judge Brown fixed Mandy with a glaze and said, "Well young lady I see all the paperwork in is order and I think you are a very lucky lady to be getting such great parents as these two. I only have one question and I have to ask it by law. You are an adult today and can make your own decisions. Deciding on an adoption is a serious decision. Do you want to live in the Bridger household with Nathan, Kristin and Lucas?"
Mandy closer her eyes and thought for a minute before she opened them and answered. "Judge Brown I know that you know of my background and I am guessing that you also know something of the torture that my father inflicted on me under the ruse of medical treatment. I thought for a long time that nothing could ever change and then I met Lucas, who became my friend. When he could have ran after the beating my father gave me, he chose not to. He wanted to make sure his friend was okay. During the next several days Kristin made sure I was okay and was there for all my emotional breakdowns and tantrums. She did everything she could for me both physically and mentally and I can never thank her for that. Nathan taught me that a father figure could be both caring and loving without having to beat children. He showed me love, compassion, and the future that I wasn't aware I had. So do I want to live with them, the answer is before today I had no family. I love each one of these people and they love me. I want to be part of the family."
Everyone was crying and Nathan and Kristin got up and wrapped their arms around their daughter and said, "Thank you and we love you more than you can know."
Nodding Judge Brown wiped his eyes and reached for his pen. After signing his name he rose and said, "Mandy you belong to these people. No matter what anyone thinks you are more part of their family than you ever know. You're all very lucky."
He reached across the table and shook her hand while saying, "Congratulations Miss Bridger. The adoption is approved."
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The four talked quietly as they approached Judge Brown's chambers. Andrew Brown was a friend of both Kristin and Nathan's so this should go fairly quickly. They entered the office and found a large round table in the middle of the room with 5 chairs. Each took a seat and waited patiently for the Judge. Several minutes later a large lightly overweight man finishing the last puff on a cigar. He looked over at the group and smiled. After putting out the cigar he came around and shook Nathan's hand. "Nathan, it is so good to see you again. I see you are doing well with a growing family."
"I'm doing great Andrew. It has been a very hectic tour and now with the family growing and the boat under construction it ought to be fun. Glad to see you're well also."
Nodding the older man came over toward Kristin who stood and reached out and hugged him. Pulling back Judge Brown said, "Kris, it is great to see you again. I'm glad it's under happier circumstances this time."
"Me too Andrew. I hope we never meet like that again. Speaking of which I thought you told me you were going to quit the cigars. Why haven't you?"
Shaking his head he said, "I'm going to Kris, honest. It just takes time. You wouldn't want me to quit cold turkey would you?"
She sat back down as Andrew moved next to her, "Yes. As opposed to ending up in my ER again, I might decide to keep you next time."
Seeing the older man laugh she said, "I want you to promise that you will quit by it's time for your physical in 4 months."
He nodded and said, "All right you win, you always win. Now why don't you introduce me to the pretty young lady and the handsome young man with you."
Nathan did the introductions for Lucas and Kristin introduced Mandy. Judge Brown fixed Mandy with a glaze and said, "Well young lady I see all the paperwork in is order and I think you are a very lucky lady to be getting such great parents as these two. I only have one question and I have to ask it by law. You are an adult today and can make your own decisions. Deciding on an adoption is a serious decision. Do you want to live in the Bridger household with Nathan, Kristin and Lucas?"
Mandy closer her eyes and thought for a minute before she opened them and answered. "Judge Brown I know that you know of my background and I am guessing that you also know something of the torture that my father inflicted on me under the ruse of medical treatment. I thought for a long time that nothing could ever change and then I met Lucas, who became my friend. When he could have ran after the beating my father gave me, he chose not to. He wanted to make sure his friend was okay. During the next several days Kristin made sure I was okay and was there for all my emotional breakdowns and tantrums. She did everything she could for me both physically and mentally and I can never thank her for that. Nathan taught me that a father figure could be both caring and loving without having to beat children. He showed me love, compassion, and the future that I wasn't aware I had. So do I want to live with them, the answer is before today I had no family. I love each one of these people and they love me. I want to be part of the family."
Everyone was crying and Nathan and Kristin got up and wrapped their arms around their daughter and said, "Thank you and we love you more than you can know."
Nodding Judge Brown wiped his eyes and reached for his pen. After signing his name he rose and said, "Mandy you belong to these people. No matter what anyone thinks you are more part of their family than you ever know. You're all very lucky."
He reached across the table and shook her hand while saying, "Congratulations Miss Bridger. The adoption is approved."