***
We picked Lucia up from kindergarten early. When she saw us both standing at the gate, her face lit up like a firework. She ran into my arms, her backpack bouncing against her spine.
“Mommy! Miro! Are we going to the park?”
I knelt down, smoothing her hair. “Not the park today, sweetie. Today is a very special day. Remember how I told you Mommy and Daddy were finishing their talk with the judge?”
Lucia nodded solemnly. “Is it finished?”
“It is,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “It’s all settled. We’re going to live our new life now, just us. And Miro is going to stay with us, too.”
Lucia’s eyes went wide. “Forever?”
I looked up at Miro, who was watching us with an expression of such pure, uncomplicated affection that it made my breath hitch.
“As long as you’ll have me,” Mi
