“I almost forgot,” said Maddie. “Just a minute.” She ran down the hall to her room, returning with a sheet of paper.
She stood in front of John, the paper behind her. “Mr. John, can I ask you something?”
“Of course you can, Miss Maddie. Ask me anything you want.”
“You’re not married, right?”
“Unfortunately, that is true.”
“And you don’t have any kids.”
“Also true.”
She nodded as though confirming what she already knew. “Well, I found out the other day that Bobby Franklin is adopted, so I asked Max, I mean, Daddy, how that works.”
John’s face scrunched up in confusion. “Okay…”
Sky looked at Max, who simply smiled and nodded at Maddie.
“And he said people can adopt other people to be their family whether they are really family or not. And it’s all legal and stuff.”
John looked at Max and then Sky, frowning slightly. “Yeah, that’s basically how it works.”
“Well, since you don’t have any kids, and I don’t have a grandpa, I’d like to adopt you.” With a flourish, she handed him the sheet of paper filled with hearts and Maddie’s precise print. “Max helped me with it.” Before he had a chance to read it, she pulled it back and said, “Here, I’ll read it to you.” She stood up straight and tall. “I, Madeline Adele Ward Logan, hereby adopt you, Johnathan Woodrow Andrews, to be my grandfather for now and evermore. Signed, Maddie Logan.”
Sky’s heart skipped a beat as she watched the exchange between her daughter and the gentle giant standing in front of the Christmas tree, his face beet red, his eyes glistening in the twinkling lights.
Maddie handed the sheet back to John, her smile fading as the silence lingered, and Sky worried he might be offended or refuse.
Then John ducked his head, swiped his face with both hands and got down on his knees in front of her daughter, smiling from ear to ear as he clutched the paper to his heart. “My dear, sweet child, it would give me the utmost pleasure to be your adopted grandfather.” His voice broke, and he swiped his face again. “I’ve always wanted to be a grandfather.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “Isn’t it wonderful, Grandpa? We both got our Christmas wish! And it’s not even Christmas yet!”
“Yes, it is, child,” said John as he hugged her to him. “Yes, it is.”
Maddie pulled away and looked at Max. “Come on, Daddy. Grandpa can help us string popcorn to put on the tree.”
Sky didn’t bother to stem the tears flowing down her cheeks as she watched Maddie with her adopted grandfather and soon-to-be father.
And that’s when she made a startling discovery.
Blood doesn’t make a family.
Love does.
The End
Dear Readers:
When my characters cook a particular dish in my books, I like to include the recipes since the recipes they prepare are my own, so here are Hot Stuff and Chicken Spaghetti. Enjoy!
Hot Stuff
(Tip: Wear gloves when peeling onions and chopping peppers! If you don’t want it all that hot, you can seed some or all of the peppers first)
About 40 jalapeno peppers, stems removed
4# yellow onions, peeled
2 cups sugar
3 Tbsp Salt
3 cups distilled white vinegar
Process onions and peppers in food processor until well minced. Put sugar, salt and vinegar in large pot and bring to a boil. Add pepper mixture and bring back to boil, cooking 3-4 minutes. Fill hot, sterile jars with mixture and seal. Makes about 6 pints.
Chicken Spaghetti
12 oz pack spaghetti (I prefer Angel hair pasta but spaghetti is fine)
4-5 chicken breasts (or any pre-cooked chicken like Tyson’s Southwest grilled fajita chicken)
1 can Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies
1 can cream of chicken soup—undiluted
1 can cream of mushroom soup—undiluted
