He moved around the coffee table, adjusting chairs and fluffing pillows for a long time. Hana offered to have this intimate reunion at the agency, but Drake felt it was cold. Lifeless. He wanted a warm environment, so he suggested back at our hotel. I couldn’t have been more proud of him. We sat together on the couch, holding hands. It was just us for now, waiting with the camera placed in my lap. Hana was bringing his mother and would act as translator today. In my heart of hearts, I hoped she wouldn’t be needed for every word that was exchanged today. It would be so nice for Drake and his birth mom to understand each other. If only one word. If only one line. Three knocks hit the door, and a breath escaped us both. I turned to Drake. Wrapping my arms around him, I said three words: “I love you.” He managed to whisper the same. I placed a kiss on his lips, and together, we stood. Hand and hand, we made it to the door. I squeezed his hand before I let go and moved on to capturing the moment of this meeting with the video camera.
