Done Adulting Vol. 1 Ch. 110

“Guess we should go pack up,” Amanda said as they walked back to the cabin from the lodge.

“Check-out is late. We can do it in the morning”

“It got cold,” Mel said. “Feels like winter.”

“First frost tomorrow probably. Being near the water doesn’t help. Always feels colder next to the water.”

“Jamie, did you have fun on the boat today,” Mel asked.

“Yeah. I’ve only gotten to do that a few times. I like it.”

“You did a very good job,” Becky added. “You’re almost as good on the water as in.”

“For a little,” Jamie demurred.

“Is it too cold to build a fire,” Becky asked.

“No, I think we can manage one last fire,” Mel said. “Manda?”

“That’d be nice. We’ll get it started, Mom, if you want to get Jamie ready for bed.”

“Thanks,” Becky said, “We’ll be back in a minute.

Once in the nursery, Becky got Jamie changed and kept her voice down while asking, “You sure you want to do this?”

“Yes. Very sure,” he smiled. Becky’s eyes teared over as she wiped down Jamie’s diaper area.

“Do you remember what Amanda said to you your first night with us?”

“Of course I do. Every word.” Jamie remembered that night vividly, imprinted on his memory forever. It was the night he became Jamie.

“Here,” Becky said as she helped him sit up. “She’ll like you in this tonight.”

“Is that the one she bought for me yesterday?”

“Mhmm.” Becky helped him into a new sleeper with teddy bear ears and a teddy bear tail. She sniffled and wiped her nose as she zipped it up.

“You gonna be warm enough,” she asked.

“Yeah,” he smiled at her. “It’s not gonna be a surprise if you keep crying.”

“O, I can’t help it. I just …” Jamie cut her off by leaning forward and giving her a hard hug. She hugged him back tighter and whispered, “Thank you, Baby Bear, for everything. Really … You, you’ve brought so much love into our house, and watching Amanda become … Thank you.”

“Thank you, Mommy. This makes me very happy.” They let one another go and hoped the darkness would hide their puffy eyes.

“Let’s go then.” Becky picked Jamie up onto her hip and checked her back pocket. She’d carried it all day long so Amanda wouldn’t find it. They stepped out into the backyard where the fire was already at a good blaze, helped along by the kindling Jamie had helped gather that day.

“Nice work, girls.”

“Once a scout, always a scout,” Mel said. Becky sat down on the outdoor sofa next to Amanda, who drew up her knees to make room.

“I’m real glad we could do this,” Amanda said, “Thank you, Mom. This was the best weekend.”

“My pleasure, baby. You, too, Mel. I’m glad you could come.”

“This really was great.”

“What was everyone’s favorite part,” Becky said, the obligatory question from the parent at the close of any vacation.

“I liked playing with Megan and Linnie,” Jamie said.

“Really?” Amanda was surprised. “I thought you were just going through the motions.”

“I was at first, but then I kinda got into it.”

“Good for you.”

“Mel,” Rebecca asked.

“Camping out on the porch last night was fun. You really do get better sleep in the fresh air. And thank you, Jamie, for sharing my sleeping bag and keeping me warm.” Jamie blushed in response.

“What about you, Mom?” Becky blinked away a tear that no one could see in the dark and the flicker of the fire, no one accept Jamie, who squeezed her leg to reassure her.

“This, right now.” She shifted Jamie so they were both facing Amanda. “I know your birthday isn’t until next week, but we’re all here, and it’s a special day for us, so I wanted to give you this early.”

Amanda smiled. “Did you know about this, Mel?”

“No – swear.” She shook her head.

“This is from me and Jamie.” Rebecca took the envelope out of her back pocket, looked at it for a second, and handed it to Amanda with trembling fingers. Amanda took it and opened the flap, withdrawing the paper. It was hard to read in the firelight. She felt the raised seal, held it up and looked very closely. She gasped, water coming to her eyes and her chest tightening. She held her breath to suppress her emotions; she couldn’t even speak. Tears streaming down her face, she set the letter gently on the sofa, and in a rush threw her arms wide and closed them around both her mom and Jamie.

“O my god! What,” Mel asked in wonderment at what could make Amanda so overcome she couldn’t speak.

Becky put her arm around her daughter and stroked her hair, her own tears starting again. Jamie couldn’t help it either, squeezed between them, the three-way embrace lit by flickering shadows of fire burning cold air and spreading its warmth over their family.

“It’s because I trust you with his life,” Becky said, “And because I love you so much.”

“Me, too, Manda.”

“What?” Mel picked up the letter and squinted to read it in the dark.

Tosca Department of Human Services

Certificate of Arrival

Amended

Arrived: James Patrick Webb (née Eric Jacobs)

Guardian #1: Rebecca Grace Webb

Guardian #2: Amanda Delaney Webb

“All you have to do is sign it,” Becky said.

“Thank you both so much,” Manda said as she finally let go of them and wiped her eyes. “This is the best present ever.”

“It just formalizes things,” Becky said. “You were already his surrogate guardian.”

Amanda looked at Jamie and choked up again. “This … Jamie …” she said as she laughed and cried at the same time. Becky loosened her arm from around Jamie’s waist, and he crawled off her lap and into Manda’s, wrapping his arms around her middle. “O, my Jamie Bear … I’m so glad you found us.”

Mel watched them silently hold one another, wondering what it must feel like to love that much, so much it hurt, so much it made a fire look dull and cold in contrast.