The Adoption That Changed Our Family Forever
On Stephanie’s first birthday, while guests sang and balloons brushed the ceiling, John and I slipped into the kitchen.
I handed him a folder wrapped like a gift.
Inside were adoption papers.
He looked at me, surprised.
I handed him a pen I’d decorated with ribbon because I wanted it to feel like a welcome, not paperwork.
Then we signed.
Two weeks later, we brought Ruth home.
She had been abandoned on Christmas Eve near the city’s main Christmas tree.
No note.
No explanation.
