Alexander turned back to the table, his eyes dropping to the files.

“I want the custody petition processed simultaneously,” Alexander said. “I want the court to recognize my parental rights formally, today.”

“The family court judge is already on standby,” one of our lawyers said from the corner of the room. “The petition is based on the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity you signed yesterday.”

He handed a leather-bound folder to Alexander.

“Once you sign these final declarations, the state will recognize you as the legal father of Lucas and Noah Sterling,” the lawyer said. “There will be no basis for any future challenge.”

Alexander took the pen Margaret offered him and signed his name at the bottom of the three documents.

His signature was large and bold, the ink drying dark against the white paper.

He handed the pen to me, pointing to the line below his name.

“Your turn, Emma,” he said softly.

I took the pen, my hand trembling slightly as I wrote my name next to his.

It was the first time our names had ever appeared together on a legal document.