I Adopted Four Siblings Who Were Going to Be Split Up – a Year Later, a Stranger Showed Up and Revealed the Truth About Their Biological Parents

“Yeah,” I said. “All of you. I’m not interested in just one.”

Her mouth twitched. “What if you change your mind?”

“I won’t. You’ve had enough people do that already.”

Ruby peeked out. “Do you have snacks?”

I smiled. “Yeah, I’ve always got snacks.”

Karen laughed softly behind me.

My house stopped echoing.

***

After that came the court.

A judge asked, “Mr. Ross, do you understand you are assuming full legal and financial responsibility for four minor children?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” I said. I was scared, but I meant it.

The day they moved in, my house stopped echoing. Four sets of shoes by the door. Four backpacks dumped in a pile.

“You’re not my real dad.”

The first weeks were rough.

Ruby woke up crying for her mom almost every night. I’d sit on the floor next to her bed until she fell asleep.