In the weeks that followed, Jenna moved out, and the girls’ adoption was finalized. They told me they had been terrified of being separated or sent away. I promised them that would never happen—not as long as I was here.
Slowly, we built new routines—dinner together, homework at the table, and lighting a candle for Mom at night. One evening, Maya leaned on me and whispered, “We knew you’d choose us.” In that moment, I realized we had finally become a real family—safe, steady, and truly home
