“Do we have to call it adoption?” Lily asked.

“What do you want to call it?” Jake replied.

She thought for a moment. “Just family. That’s all I wanted.”

Jake smiled. “Family it is.”

Inside, the scent of cookies filled the air. Ben giggled as Duke tried to sneak one off the plate. Lily stirred chocolate chips into the dough like it was the most natural thing in the world.