(Originally posted April 5, 2013)

Sheila and Peter

Sheila

We were both so terrified. We talked for a long time that morning, before Zoey woke up. Actually we got very little slept all, the night before. We had no idea how Zoey would react.

We actually were considering not telling her at all.

Peter

When she walked into the kitchen I remember thinking, 'Oh my God, I hope she didn't hear us'. She went to the coffee pot and poured a coffee, but as soon as she turned around, I knew she had heard. My heart sunk, I couldn't breathe. I mean, how do you tell your daughter that she was adopted. I mean, Zoe joked about it every now and then, but we never took it too serious, though it always brought a lump to my throat.

Sheila

We cried and cried. I didn't know what to say to her. I knew it would be a shock anyway, but to learn that the woman you had called Auntie for your whole life, was indeed your Mom, that had to be a shock.

Zoey just cried. We held each other for a long time. I didn't want to let her go. I was so afraid that if I did she would walk out the door and out of our lives for good. I was mortified.

I remember her whispering to me, "Mom, I love you more than life itself."

I cried harder. She kept telling me it was ok. She told Peter to hold me. I remember Peter and I standing there looking at her. My eyes were stinging so much, I could barely see.

Peter

Zoe looked at us and thanked us. She thanked us for being the most incredible parents in the world. She assured us over and over that she loved us and that she always would. That nothing would ever change that.

She picked up the adoption paper and handed it to Sheila, asking her to hold on to it.

Then she told us that she wanted to be alone for a while. She had to let this all sink in.

I asked her if she wanted to cancel the party.

Sheila

She just smiled and said, "No."

She told us that everything would be ok, that she just needed to be alone for a little while.

I asked her if she wanted me to call Zara and tell her that we had told her. She just shook her head. She said she would talk to her Auntie Zara at the party.

She smiled and assured us, once again, that everything would be okay.

Then she said she felt tired and she wanted to rest before the party.

Peter

We didn't know what to do. We decided to let her have some time. Sheila made us some breakfast and we went to get ready. People were showing up around 1 pm. There were still things to do.

While Sheila got breakfast, I snuck upstairs and looked in on her. She was laying on her bed, silently facing the window. I didn't know if she was awake or asleep.

Sheila

I checked on her, myself, an hour or so later. I could hear her shower going. I opened her door a little and I could hear her singing. She always sang in the shower. She had such a beautiful voice. I felt so much better.

Later she came down, just as Dylan arrived. She looked absolutely gorgeous.

I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She certainly looked happy.

She came to me and gave me a huge hug and told me she was the happiest girl in the world.

Peter

We were both so relieved.