Elizabeth helped button Autumn's dress as they got ready to go to court to finalize her adoption.
"Love, Mommy."
"Love you too, sweet girl."
Jack walked in and took a picture of them. "Good morning, ladies."
"Hi, Daddy!"
"Hey, pumpkin. You and Mommy look so pretty!"
"Autumn have pink….dress."
"That's right."
Elizabeth smoothed her own dress and checked herself in the mirror. "Do I look like a mom?"
"Yes. A hot one," he told her, kissing her cheek.
"Jack!" she laughed. "Behave."
"What's the fun in that?" His lips found her neck, making her giggle.
"Jack, we have a little person in the room."
"It's good for her to see us loving on each other."
She was watching them too. Then she walked up and reached her arms up. Jack picked her up. "Well, pumpkin. Today is a big day. Do you know why?"
"Autumn belong…to Daddy and…Mommy."
"That's right. The judge is going to say that no one can ever take you away from us."
"Sissy go away."
"Yes she did but she belongs to someone else. She was just here until her family could take care of her again. And we may have more kids that come stay with us for a little while. Just until their families can take care of them again."
"Why?"
"Because those kids need love and you and I and Mommy have a lot of love, don't we?"
"Yep!"
"I need to fix Autumn's hair, Jack."
"I need to learn how to do that."
"Well, maybe when we have more time."
He set her down and watched as Elizabeth quickly tied her hair into two braids, one on each side of her head. "All set, sweetie pie. Let's get your coat and boots on so we can go. We can't be late."
The court room wasn't full by any means, but the people there were Abigail, both sets of grandparents, Julie Thatcher and Florence from Haven House.
Once everyone was seated, the bailiff asked for everyone to stand up for the judge.
"Be seated. Honorable Ned Yost presiding."
"Hello everyone. What a wonderful day for an adoption, don't you think?"
Instead of staying behind his high desk, he came out and took a seat close to the family. "Now, it seems to me there is a lovely little girl named Autumn here today who wants to be a Thornton. Is she here?"
"Autumn here!" she said, raising her hands.
"There you are. Would you please come stand right here in front of me so I can see your pretty dress?"
"Daddy come?"
"Sure, Daddy can come. Mommy too."
So the three of them walked up to stand in front of the judge.
"My name is Judge Yost. What are your names?" he asked, nodding to Jack and Elizabeth.
"Jack Thornton, Your Honor."
"Elizabeth Thornton, Your Honor."
"Well, I just have a couple questions. First, Autumn, do you like living with Mommy and Daddy?"
She nodded. "Use your words, pumpkin," Jack told her.
"Yes."
"Do they play games with you?"
"Yes. Tea…party!" she said with a grin.
"How about stories? Do they read to you before you go to sleep?"
"Yes, three books!"
"Wow! Do they give you food to eat?"
"Yum! Daddy….make pancakes!"
"And do they make you go to school?"
"Yes. Autumn….Autumn was scared. Not scared now."
"That's good. One last question. Do you have a puppy yet?"
"No! Autumn…want puppy!"
"Well, something tells me you'll get one before too long. Now, I have a few questions for Mommy and Daddy. Jack, Elizabeth, do you promise to continue to play games and read stories with Autumn?"
"Yes, Your Honor," they said together.
"Do you promise to keep her in school and maybe buy her a puppy at some point?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"Do you promise that whatever happens between the two of you, that you will love her and care for her forever as if she were your flesh and blood?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"Then I pronounce you, Daddy, Mommy, and Daughter. Congratulations! Now, let's take a picture of all of us."
….
Everyone headed to Tomale's, a Mexican restaurant in Portland, for lunch.
They had a room to themselves downstairs which worked well for the large group.
"So how is she doing?" Charlotte asked Jack, referring to Elizabeth.
"She is mostly alright. She breaks down in tears sometimes but we pray and remind ourselves that our main goal was to provide a loving, safe environment. We did that. Now Mercy is with her actual family."
"Now you move forward."
"Exactly. We have a wonderful daughter and a safe home and each other. It's a huge blessing." He smiled as he watched Autumn giggle at his brother's "I got your nose" antics. "Huge blessing."
"You miss her too."
"Yeah. I do."
Charlotte kissed his cheek. "Love you, son."
"Love you too, Ma."
Autumn looked up at her Mommy. She looked sad. "Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Mommy sad?"
"Of course not. Today is the best day ever. You became my daughter forever."
"Mommy crying."
Elizabeth pulled her into her arms and held her tight. "Sometimes crying means I'm happy. And I am. So very happy you are mine, Autumn Lynne Thornton."
"Love Mommy."
"Love you too. So so much."
….
For the next six weeks, life went back to normal at the Thornton house. Their days were filled with school, support group meetings, and Jack getting his new business off the ground. Elizabeth was a tiny bit grateful for the little bit of reprieve so she could concentrate on writing her articles and creating a buffer so that she could take a break for awhile.
Then one day in mid-December, as the three of them were lounging on the couch by a warm fire watching Christmas movies, her phone rang.
Elizabeth smiled. "Good evening, Abigail."
"Hello, Elizabeth. How are things going?"
"Perfect. They are absolutely perfect."
"Well, I have news."
"Oh yeah? What would that be?"
"I have siblings, a boy and girl, that need a placement. They just turned two years old and as of now, their mother is receiving treatment for drug addiction and awaiting trial. She may end up going to jail for a while, or she may not."
"When do you need us to be ready?"
"Two days. Does that give you enough time?"
"Yep. Just need another car seat and another high chair. Other than that, we are up for it."
"Great. I will call you tomorrow about what time I will bring them over."
"That sounds good. Thanks, Abigail."
"Thank you, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth smiled at Jack and Autumn who were both asleep next to her. "Jack," she whispered.
He opened his eyes. "It was Abigail?"
"Yeah. There are two year old twins that need placement. Tomorrow we need to go get another car seat and another high chair."
"Okay. I have to work. Do you mind going without me?"
"That will be fine. I will go when Autumn is at school."
So the next morning, she dropped her off at school and went to the store. She bought the items she needed but she also bought a few things to give the babies as Christmas gifts.
When she returned home, she had about an hour before she needed to go get Autumn so she decided to seek out Jack.
"Honey? Are you here?"
"In here, Elizabeth!" he called from past the kitchen. She wandered down the hall and into the room he was in. It had been a storage room during most of the renovations.
"Hey, what are you up to?"
"I wanted to show you something." He gestured to the room, pointing to the window. "There is where your desk is going to be and next to it, a bookcase. Then over there, a love seat, for if you want to sit in here and read or something."
"An office. You are making me an office?"
"Yep. I think you need one. To write your articles or your books or whatever it is. Maybe just to get away from the kids for a few minutes."
"You are amazing, honey. Thank you so much." She walked over and hugged him. "I really appreciate this. It is so thoughtful."
"You know what I was thinking?" he said with a grin.
"Yeah. That's what I was thinking too." She took his hand and led him upstairs to their room.
….
The next day about lunchtime, Abigail arrived with Addyson and Aidan. They were super adorable and shy but didn't cry or anything like Mercy had.
Each of them had chubby cheeks and big eyes and light brown hair. "This is Addyson and Aidan."
Elizabeth knelt down and smiled. "Hi, guys. My name is Beth."
They scooted closer to Abigail's knees but kept their eyes on Beth. "It's okay, guys."
Autumn walked over and waved at them, smiling her endearing smile. "Hi!"
Addyson smiled at her and waved back. Aidan stayed put.
Autumn held her hand out to Addyson. "Play?"
Addyson nodded and took her hand and followed her to the living room.
Jack walked up. "Do you need help with their things, Abigail?"
"No. They don't really have anything. When we went to take them from their residence, we had to get them out fast."
"Okay. We have diapers from Mercy that might fit, but we will go get anything they need."
"Their mom is in jail now. They might need to stay a while depending on the outcome of her trial."
"Okay. We will take care of them." Elizabeth held out her hands to Aidan. "Come on, buddy. You hungry?"
He lifted his arms and allowed her to pick him up. "Do you like fishy crackers?" He didn't respond but she set him in the high chair.
Jack brought the girls in a moment later after Abigail left. "Snack time."
"Fish!" Autumn said as she climbed into her booster seat.
Jack put Addyson in the other high chair next to her brother. Elizabeth placed goldfish crackers on everyone's tray and the table for Autumn.
Jack looked at Elizabeth. "I'm going to run to the store. What size diapers do you think?"
"Size 3 I think. That was what Mercy wore and they don't look bigger than her. And they need pajamas and other clothes too."
"I will take care of them." He gave Elizabeth a kiss, then Autumn, and then he took a peek at the size of each of their shirts as he walked past them. "Bye, babies. I will be back soon."
Elizabeth placed blueberries in front of everyone too and tried to think what they should do next.
"What do you guys want to do next? Watch a movie? Play a game? Read books?"
….
Jack called his mom on the way to the store. "Hey, Ma."
"Hey, son."
"We got the twins today and they have nothing. I need to get them diapers and clothes and…everything."
"Alright. Do you know the sizes?"
"Yeah. I looked at their shirt tags as I walked by."
"Okay. Sounds like you have it handled."
"Kinda."
"What's wrong?"
"Me. I fell in love this time. I saw them and something happened in my heart. I don't know them but I feel like it's perfect for them to be with us. I don't know. I think I am crazy."
"Nope, you feel for them. You think that because you are acting like their father, that you need to provide."
"I do."
"Right. I'm just saying it's natural to feel that way. You aren't crazy, dear. You have a big heart."
"Okay. Well, I am about to do a very Daddy-like thing and go buy diapers and clothes for my kids."
"You will do just fine. Oh, and a thought, maybe get Beth some flowers."
"Good idea, Ma. Love you."
"Love you too, son."