Chapter 23

Labor of Love 3

Celeste watched over her newest charge sleeping peacefully in her basinet. Her early arrival into the world has not come with any ill side effects. The baby was strong and healthy.

The moment the blonde angel, posing as a stewardess, cradled the girl within her arms as the plane landed during terrible weather, Celeste knew that she would protect the child with all the powers available to her. A couple of weeks after her own creation, the angel was confident and even just the slightest bit cynical with the human world. This newborn soul turned the darkness into light again. She was supposed to drop the truth into her assignment's lap, but she never knew who that was until the cry of a baby sounded during an airborne flight.

Her charge would have some trials and tribulations to come. Already at three months of age, one was upon her.

"Let me get this straight," the judge said with doubt. "Dr. Meg Salter, you and your husband, Professor Brian Salter wish to formally adopt the daughter of Olivia Marland, who was your husband's mistress?"

The red haired doctor stood to address the court, "Yes your honor, we do."

The man looked over from his lofty seat. "You are doing this out of good will, not out of vindication to harm the child or raise it in hatred?"

Meg breathed a steady breath. "I admit that it's a cruel reminder of what happened between my husband and his student, but the baby needs a family and I can provide one for her."

"She is not yours, Dr. Salter."

"No, your honor, she is mine. From the moment that I delivered her, I knew she was. I thought my husband's affair ended my marriage, but it in fact saved it. Brian knows how to love again and to not take things for granted. I know now not to lose myself in work and my medical responsibilities. We thought we could never have children, but by the grace of God, one has come into our lives, and I am obligated and honored to claim her."

The judge looked stunned. Never in all of his years presiding over his courtroom had he heard such an odd situation, the jilted wife requesting her husband's child from an affair?

And the pair decided to stay together too, how unheard of!

He'd seen many a pair divorce for lesser reason.

On paper, the two were a fine match for the motherless child. Both were of good standing in the community, with stable jobs, and residing in a well-to-do neighborhood, but who's to say that the woman wouldn't change her mind in the long run?

He felt like King Solomon, but instead of dividing the child, he could only give her to the false mother.

Or was Meg Salter really the wrong one?

An unseen long haired blonde woman placed her comforting hand on the judge's shoulder.

The official thought again. The doctor obviously was a loving person. She'd forgiven and stayed with her husband. He appeared properly chastised. No one could have such hope in their eyes with the intent of evil.

"Alright, I'll award you custody of the child, Prof. and Dr. Salter on the condition that the state will observe weekly the child's wellbeing for one year with monthly check-ins detailing the child's heath afterwards. Any sign of abuse, and she'll be taken away from the both of you."

The older couple could only agree joyously as they held hands in the courtroom.

Celeste bent her head close to the sleeping babe, now the newly adopted daughter. "I know you're too young to understand, but God loves you so much that when he made you, he decided to send all these people to watch over you. Your mother, who gave birth to you, looks down from heaven, your father and Mrs. Salter will teach you right from wrong on Earth, and I, your guardian angel will be there by your side every step of the way until you're old enough to hear this wonderful truth."

The last part is kind of similar to what I wrote in Manny. I was surprised to see Celeste so cynical after one month. Is one month on earth all it takes for an angel to be so jaded? It's too bad Hudson Leick left to be in Hercules/Xena but I have to admit that show is a lot more fun to act in. There will be a future story with that scenario. This chapter and the episode itself is idealized. I don't know how a woman raising her husband's child would act like.

Grignard