“I’m still overwhelmed,” Shallie said. “My life feels surreal. Everything I wanted I now have.” She used one of the tissues Tina had left to wipe her eyes and handed one to Christine. “You know something else? Cord found his mother, too, a few months ago. Again with Eddie’s help. He hadn’t seen her since he was two.”

Christine closed her eyes. “Does that sound familiar or what?”

They went through Shallie’s history, most of which Christine had already learned.

Then Shallie said, “I’m going to bring Carly in, okay?”

She took a sip of her champagne and stood up, first grabbing a blank invitation from the top drawer before she headed for the door.

Christine nodded and swallowed some champagne, too. “Could you have Doug join us?”

SHE WAS ALMOST relieved to step away for a little while—simply because the emotions she felt were so strong, so new and unexpected. She needed time to absorb them…

Downstairs as she looked for Carly, she was stopped by Russ. “Did you hear Christine say they’re going to stay at the motel? In Room 2!”

Shallie nodded.

“God, I’m totally stunned. And incredibly happy,” he said, a bewildered expression on his face. “It’s like my past isn’t separated from my present anymore. Do you know what I mean?”

She nodded again.

“The only thing is…she asked about Bethanne. I had to tell her Bethanne’s disappeared, or in any case we’ve lost touch.”

“That must’ve been upsetting,” Shallie told him. “For both of you.”

“It was. Anyway, I’ll let you do whatever you need to do now, and I’ll drive them…home.”

She saw Cord, saying goodbye to a few of the guests. He hurried toward her, saying, “Carly’s still in the kitchen. I’ll get her.”

“Oh, and could you help Doug upstairs, too?”

CARLY HAD TO YAWN; it was almost eleven now. She badly wanted this meeting—and yet, she didn’t. Maybe she was a little envious that Shallie had her mother back? Maybe… What a parent-and-child reunion these last few months had been! She reminded herself that this was the woman who’d sent Reba here, who was therefore indirectly responsible for her existence.

Cord brought her over to Shallie, who took her hand and led her upstairs. Carly said, “I’m truly happy for you.”

She must not have sounded completely convincing, since Shallie’s response was “Don’t forget. This is—or will be—your grandmother.” That hadn’t occurred to Carly yet.

They walked into the office, still hand in hand, and Shallie said, “Mom, this is Carly.” Mom. It seemed so…strange to Carly’s ear. “And this is Doug, her husband.”