When she raised her head again, her voice had softened.
“Then I believe we have our answer.”
She signed the order.
The sound of her pen against paper was almost nothing.
A tiny scratch.
But it changed the rest of our lives.
“Michael Peterson, this court grants you permanent guardianship of Victoria Peterson.”
Vicky launched herself at me.
I barely had time to catch her.
“We won!”
The courtroom laughed.
I hugged her so tightly she squeaked.
“Can’t breathe.”
“Sorry.”
I loosened my arms.
She immediately hugged me tighter.
Mercer turned away.
I pretended not to notice him wiping his eyes.
Judge Hart smiled.
“Take care of each other.”
“We will.”
Then she added:
“Michael?”
“Yes?”
“Your parents would probably be very proud.”
That nearly destroyed me.
I nodded because speaking wasn’t possible.
Outside the courthouse, reporters waited again.
But this time, I stopped.
Mercer looked surprised.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
