“I’ve made you cry, haven’t I? Because of the boys…and because of… ”

“No, Leigh,” Mike said, moving toward her to give her a hug of support. “You’ll find we’re not the kind of people who do a lot of looking back. You don’t have to worry about that. We keep our eyes cast forward.”

“John had a hard time forgiving me for keeping the boys’ paternity from him. I was confused… He had just gotten married, and I guess I—”

“No, dearest, no. Whatever your reasons, I don’t blame you and I won’t ask. I’m happy, Leigh,” Jeanette said with a sniff. “I’m delighted to hear I’m a grandmother again, but it’s more than that. It’s John. I’ve worried about him having such a hard time finding what he wants—finding the right person to share his life with. I know it’s old-fashioned, but all I really ever wanted for my boys was for them to have the kind of family life that would fulfill them.”

“It isn’t too hard to see that my brother is a new man,” Mike said. “We’ve all hoped he would find the kind of special happiness that we’ve found. And now he has.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for letting me in.”

“Leigh, we didn’t do you a good turn by ‘letting’ you into the family. We’re honored to have you. And I mean that sincerely.”

* * *

June tenth was a bright, glorious day. Leigh and Jess got up early; there was a great deal to do. The house had to be straightened, though it had already been thoroughly cleaned. The boys had to get their first bath of the day and their first set of clean clothes.

The first to arrive was the florist, who came at nine in the morning to begin decorating the gazebo and tables. Leigh met his truck, and shook his hand, and he passed her a little bag, which she carried off to her room.

Next the caterers arrived in two vans and began to unload their supplies—food, serving trays, punch bowls, linen and other accessories—into the kitchen. Leigh whispered with the caterers for a moment.

“What is it?” Jess demanded. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing’s the matter, Mom.” Leigh laughed. “I just asked them to get the tables ready but not to put the food out until the guests start to arrive. We don’t want to poison anyone with spoiled potato salad.”

“Oh. Of course not.”

Next the string quartet arrived to set up their instruments and chairs in the gazebo, though they would leave and come back later to play.

And then John arrived. “John!” Jess said, surprised. “You’re early! The party doesn’t start until two!”