Time Makes You Bolder (Sequel to No One's A Fool)

Chapter 20

"So you see now, it was you who brought us together, Birdie. I was around so much, because I was devoted to you. But I fell in love with your mother in the meantime." Mick explained.

"And I fell in love with him watching the way he was with you. I knew that if I could trust him with my child, I could trust him with myself." Stevie added, looking at Mick now. "It was always supposed to be him. But neither of us would have ever realized that if you hadn't come along."

~~~~~~~~~~

1994.

Neither Lucy nor Amy were surprised to hear that Mick was dating Stevie.. In fact, Lucy laughed, saying, "Yeah, and what else is new?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mick asked.

"You've been keen on Stevie for years. Amy and I both know it." She smiled wryly, and Mick could say nothing in return. He and Stevie both sat down to tell Wrenna, explaining that nothing would change, only that maybe he would be around more. Wrenna seemed happy to hear this. She had never known her mother to have a boyfriend, but she adored Mick.

It was near the end of 1994, when they had been dating for about eight months, that Mick finally worked up the courage to approach Stevie about what he had been considering.

"I think you should let me adopt Wrenna."

"You and I aren't even married." Stevie replied.

"We don't have to be. I've already spoken with my attorney. He says that because there's no father listed on her birth certificate, it doesn't even have to be an adoption. Just a revision of the original certificate to add my name. It's not even complicated – I just need to sign paperwork saying I acknowledge my paternity."

"Mick, have you really thought about this?"

"I've thought about this since the moment I first held her, an hour after she was born. I even thought about offering it back then, but I thought it would freak you out too much. And I wasn't convinced Joe wasn't going to come back into the picture. But he never did, and she deserves a father."

"And you want to do this? After your girls are already both adults?"

"Why wouldn't I? Wrenna has always been my girl. I know you don't want to get married. And I don't need that from you – not right now. But whatever happens with us, I'll always be devoted to both you and her. You know that." Stevie was quiet for a moment, but Mick could see tears in her eyes.

"Have you talked to anyone else about this?"

"Only my lawyer. I wanted to talk to you first, and then my girls and Wrenna."

"And if your girls don't like the idea?"

"Don't kid yourself, Stevie. The first thing out of Amy's mouth when I told her you and I were dating was, 'Are you going to adopt Birdie? I think you should.' She adores that little girl. So does Lucy, and Lucy doesn't even like little kids."

"I feel like I should be more opposed to this."

"But you know I'm right." Mick shrugged.

"The other day Wrenna told me that sometimes she wishes she had a dad like Jessi has a dad." Stevie told him. "I asked her what that means, and she said it means a dad who lives with her. I didn't know what to say. I just told her I was so sorry. But she went on to say it's not a big deal, because any time she wants to do 'dad stuff' she just calls you."