Post by Damon Graves on Jan 30, 2018 2:19:14 GMT -5
Graves Residence
Las Vegas, NV
Monday, January 29, 2018 - 7:25 am
Aurora sat at her computer, the soft glow of the monitor highlighting her beautiful features as her red-painted nails clicked against the keyboard. She was dressed in a black pencil skirt and purple blouse, with her hair tied back into a sleek braid. It was very rare for her to dress like this, but this was a special occasion.
From the Journal of Aurora Graves
Friday January 26, 2018
I remember sitting in the hospital waiting room on Christmas day, tapping my foot on the floor as Damon and I kept our eyes locked on the doorway that led into the hallway. Any time we heard footsteps coming by, I’d grab hold of Damon’s hand and squeeze until his fingers turned purple, only to sink back into our seats in disappointment when the footsteps would continue down the hallway, fading off into nothingness. Or worse; our hopes would be raised when a figure stepped into the door frame, only to deliver good news to one of the other groups of visitors that were sitting in there.
And then they came for us....
The attending nurse stood in the doorway, calling our names and telling us to come to the nursery to see our baby girl... our Little Dreamer.
I remember standing there with Damon, wearing those gowns that look like paper Snuggies as the nurse passed Ysera into my arms for the first time. To think that there was a time when I thought I’d never hold a baby that small, that new... I instantly started bawling like I’d just watched every tear-jerker movie ever created back to back. And then, to see Damon holding his daughter, cradling her like she was the most fragile piece of porcelain...
Hearing the crack in his voice as he spoke to her for the first time still chokes me up.
Today is the day that we formally bring her into our family. In a few minutes, we’ll be heading down to the courthouse to make everything official. After today, all of the paperwork, the waiting, and all of the crossed fingers will finally pay off, and we will forever be able to call Ysera our daughter.
Damon’s Voice: Harley, it’s time....
Aurora stopped typing, turning around to give her husband an anxious smile. Damon was wearing his best suit – charcoal grey with a purple shirt – as he held Ysera in his arms. Even Ysera was dressed for the occasion, clad in the same white dress that Aurora’s parents had dressed her in on the day she was christened. The fact that they had saved the dress after all these years brought a smile to the new mother’s face. Aurora walked up to her husband and gazed at the satin-clad infant as she gently grazed a finger against her cheek.
Aurora: Are you ready, Yssie?
She giggled as Ysera looked up at her, then the little family quietly left the room.
Clark County Family Court
Las Vegas, NV
Monday, January 29, 2018 - 8:30 am
Aurora sat in the courtroom beside Damon, cradling a sleeping Ysera in her arms. Ian and Lorena Quinn sat in the gallery, with death grips on each other’s hands. The Graves’ attorney, Martin Saybrooke, sat nearby, with the judge sitting at the bench. Clad in her black robe, she gazed down at Ysera and smiled before looking over the papers spread out in front of her.
Judge: Well, after going over the report, and hearing testimony from both yourselves and your case worker, I must ask you if it is your intent to adopt the child into your family?
Damon: Oh, most definitely.
Saybrooke cleared his throat.
Saybrooke: Now, at this point, you understand that by signing these papers, the child in question will carry all rights as if she were your naturally born child?
Aurora & Damon: We do.
Saybrooke: And you are prepared to assume all rights and responsibilities as her parents from this day forward?
Aurora & Damon: We are...
Aurora: More than anything!
The judge looked at Aurora and smiled as her voice started to crack.
Judge: By what name shall this child be known from this day forward?
Aurora and Damon: Ysera Amber Quinn Graves.
Aurora watched nervously, her lip clenched between her teeth as the judge took the pen in her hand and signed the adoption decree. As the judge put pen to paper, Aurora let out a barely audible squeal that startled Ysera awake. Blinking her dark eyes, she looked up at Aurora, who gazed down at her and gently brushed the soft wisps of black hair from her forehead.
Judge: Well then, it is with greatest pleasure that I sign into law what you already know in your hearts, and declare that Ysera – did I say that right?
Aurora and Damon nodded their heads, the both of them absolutely beaming with pride.
Judge: Great! Now where was I? Ah, yes... this is my favorite part when it comes to these cases...
The judge smiled as she raised her gavel.
Judge: Ysera is now and forever more, your daughter. Congratulations, you are going to make wonderful parents!
She banged the gavel, then gestured for the new family to approach the bench. As handshakes were exchanged by the adults, Damon looked down at his daughter.
Damon: Hey Harley… look at Yssie!
Aurora looked down, and was stunned to see a smile on Ysera’s face; her very first real smile.
Aurora: Is… is that? Is she smiling?
Ysera’s smile faded, but the one on Aurora’s face spread from ear to ear as she looked at Damon, then at the judge, and then back to Ysera.
Aurora: Yssie… can you smile for Mommy again?
Judge: It’s not unheard of at her age. A bit early, but not unheard of….
All three locked their eyes on Ysera, who contentedly laid in her mother’s arms as she smiled again.
Damon: There it is again!
Judge: See? She knows she’s in good hands. Now how about we take some pictures? I think the rest of your family is eager to get a few snapshots of their own….
