One hour later, a sleek black SUV pulled up to the stone gates of St. Vincent’s Private Foster Facility in North Dallas. Brandon stepped out first, opening the door for Maya, whose burns had been treated and wrapped in clean white bandages by the hospital trauma team.
Brandon: Are you ready for this, Maya?
Maya: *Tears in her eyes* I've waited seven hundred and thirty days for this moment, Brandon. I'm more than ready.
They walked through the front entrance of the quiet facility, where Child Protective Services supervisor Mrs. Jenkins met them in the main office holding a thick legal folder.
Mrs. Jenkins: Mr. Sterling, Miss Maya. Detective Marcus called our office thirty minutes ago with the court order signed by the family district judge.
Brandon: Is my daughter here, Mrs. Jenkins?
Mrs. Jenkins: Yes. She’s been in our care under the name 'Baby Lily' while the adoption verification process was held up in probate court. We had no idea she was the biological heir to the Sterling family.
Maya: Can I see her? Please, takes us to her!
Mrs. Jenkins smiled softly, turning and leading them down a warm, colorful hallway decorated with children's artwork. She opened the door to a sunlit playroom, where a little girl with dark curly hair and soft brown eyes was playing with wooden blocks on a soft rug.
Mrs. Jenkins: Lily, sweetie? You have some very special visitors today.
The tiny two-year-old girl turned around, dropping her wooden blocks as she looked up at the two adults standing in the doorway.
Maya: *Gasping* Oh my God... look at her, Brandon... she has your eyes...
Maya dropped to her knees on the rug, her arms shaking with overwhelming love and emotion as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Maya: Lily... my sweet baby girl... mommy is here. I came back for you...
The little girl blinked her bright eyes, looking at Maya's warm smile before taking small, unstead steps across the rug and toddling directly into Maya's open arms.
Lily: *Giggling softly* Mommy?
Maya pulled her daughter tight against her chest, weeping uncontrollably as Brandon dropped to his knees beside them, wrapping his arms around both of them.
Brandon: I'm your daddy, Lily. I'm right here. Nobody is ever going to separate us again.
Maya: *Looking up at Brandon* She knows me... Brandon, she remembers my voice...
Brandon: Because she belongs with you, Maya. She always did.
Mrs. Jenkins wiped a stray tear from her cheek as she stamped the emergency parental custody release forms on her desk, officially returning full legal rights of the child to Maya and Brandon.