The weather’s colder than we’ve been used to, and for the first time in ages, we’re dressed warmly.

New York is somewhere I’ve never been before, and it’s just so overwhelming and big.

But I’m not about to say no to shopping.

Josh, as always, spoils the shit out of us. We’ve got a car with a driver, and the poor guy is having to pack everything in the boot of the car. I don’t envy him.

And then it’s time.

We get dropped a short distance from the store because I want to see everything, but in the end, there’s only one thing I really see.

I come to a halt, my eyes blurring over with what’s in front of me.

We’ve been here for a while now, but this is a sight that’s going to take some getting used to.

Amelia’s hand in hand with her father. She’s dressed in her jacket and the hat with the pom-pom that still desperately needs to be secured before it falls off. And she’s looking up at him as if he hung the moon.

The thing that really drives this moment deep into my heart is the matching expression on his face.

None of this has been easy, but these two belong together. We all belong together. Maybe we’re struggling to find balance, but we’ll work everything out.

“Mummy,” Amelia calls.

“Right behind you.” I walk fast to catch up to them.

“Are you okay?” Josh asks.

“I am.”

We reach the door and I take a deep breath. When I came to the States last time, I spent all my time on the West Coast. This was always something I wanted to see, but limited funds made it impossible.

Now, Josh has given this to me.

“Come here.” He takes me by the hand. “They know we’re coming.”

“They do?”

“Nothing but the best for my girl. I love you, Delaney.”

* * *

It’s like a dream as I’m shown ring after ring.

They all kind of blur into one another after a while.

“I like this one.”

I look at the one Melly’s pointing at.

It’s a huge teardrop diamond. I just stare at it for the longest time while Josh strokes my back.

“Josh, I can’t. It’s too much.”

“You love it, right?”

I nod, unable to find any more words.

“Then that’s all that matters.”

I throw my arms around his neck, and he pulls me in tight. “I know this isn’t the life you ever imagined for yourself, but we’re together and that’s what’s important.”

“I know,” I whisper.

“Next week, when we’re back home, I’ll do some rearranging and even if it takes a while longer to get this movie made, I’ll make things better.”