The Best Man's Speech

28: Planned Adoptions

✵ LYRA ✵

I stared at James who was holding Luis in his arms... while running around the wedding venue like a maniac who was running on a timed bomb. "For someone who's not the father of this baby, you seem to care for him a lot." I managed to say. It was the first thing I said to him after the whole baby incident with Julie.

"Well someone needs to look after him. And everyone else is too busy being busy or annoyed at me." He replied playfully, smiling happily as Luis wrapped his tiny fingers around James' thumb.

I smiled at the adorable sight before meeting James' eyes, "At least I have you." He whispered before kissing the top of my head. Just then a flash had blazed off throughout the whole room, making me turn to find my mom standing in the doorway with a camera in her hand. She was smiling happily as she walked towards us. "I'll let you two talk." James calmly declared before walking off with a happy Luis in his arms.

"Mom." I looked at her, more confused than ever.

"I'm sorry." She said aloud, practically grabbing me into an embrace before pulling away to walk beside me. "Your father and I spoke about everything overnight. And we figured that it was best to move on and accept all of you for your mistakes. I know it's wrong... what I had been trying to raise you all into. I just didn't want you all to go through what I went through."

I looked at her confused. But she pulled me out of the confusion vortex, "Before Derin, your father and I had a child. A daughter to be precise. She was bred out of wedlock. We both had been together for so long and you know where that lead us to. We only got married out of our parents' orders. We had nothing against us but it was for her best. But then I had a miscarriage. I just didn't want any of you little ones to go through that. The pressure is chaotic and it just makes you feel very distant from your family. I wanted the best for you all. I thought I was protecting you."

I looked at her sadly. She spoke again, "I never hated you. I just wanted you to be the one who listened. I know about how Nathan and Meia really met. And I know your dad just found out. I knew the facts behind their relationship and didn't approve but I never said anything. The reason I was hard on you is because I wanted you to grow up perfectly. But I failed to do that."

"Mom." I finally spoke, "You didn't fail to raise me perfectly. You tried your best. It's just that we all want different things." I looked at her and sighed before looking away, "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too." She said in whispers.

I smiled as I looked up at her, "I know you love him." She happily mentioned as she looked over at James who was playing with Luis.

"I do." I responded, walking towards him with my mother.

"So are you going to adopt him?" My mother asked him abruptly. I watched James' eyes widen before he smiled as he answered her question, "Actually... I asked Michael to take charge of that. We're using Luis' DNA to find his father. And once we do, we'll have him take him in so that Luis can grow up with his family. And if his father wants, he can take Julie in too... but she's not coming anywhere near me or Luis for as long as we're both together."

My mom seemed proud of his answer before she happily make me choke on oxygen, "If you can't find his dad. Just know that I think you and Lyra will be great at raising him as his parents." Before either of us could say anything, she walked off happily to find Derin talking to his wife. I looked back at James and apologised on my mother's behalf, "I'm sorry about that."

"It's fine. So I take it that you both worked things out?" He asked as he looked at me, happily.

I nodded, "Turns out she knew about all of my siblings screwing up and was strict on me and didn't want me to become like them. Mostly because she didn't want me to go through what she did: having to marry my dad because she was pregnant with his child... whom she lost through a miscarriage." I summarised the story to him, all he did in response was nod his head.

"I hope you don't mind that I'm giving Luis away." James sadly said, looking down at the little angel who was smiling happily at him.

"He's got almost nothing to do with me. I just want him to be happy. And if you think what you're doing is best for him then so be it." I told him, "Plus I think it's best he lived with his father... now that I know for a fact that you're not his father."

He chuckles at my words before frowning at me, "Did you for a second there believe what she said?"

I looked at him, "Truthfully? Yes. I didn't really know anything about your personal life unless I was required to... up until recently."

He looked at me, "Guess that makes you sane." He chuckled sourly at his words.

I looked up at him sadly, "I am sorry. I should've known better." The words came out almost whisper like. "I don't blame you." He looked at me, but before I could say anything, I turned around to the sounds of Michael screaming James' name.

"What happened?" He asked my twin who seemed to be dragging a man in a suit behind him.

"This is the father! Caden Ryote is the father of Luis... which makes Luis a Ryote." Michael excitedly explained. I looked at the baby who looked happy about what we all discovered: the Ryote family is one of the most richest families in the world, and he sponsors all of our events. Having him at my sisters' wedding was nothing more than an honour, but knowing that we were too busy carrying his baby was even more exciting.