She didn’t have long to wait. They were already taking the stage.

The Garrisons. And Joni.

Sophie was front and center with Claire and Joni flanking her. Charlie, James, Uncle Stu, and Ty crowded in behind them. They were all wearing ugly Christmas sweaters that said Garrison X’mas.

The funky ’70s beat of Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” filled the bar. The women moved toward the mic in unison.

They pointed to Harper and sang to her about family. And Gloria felt goose bumps rise on her arms. She and Harper would start families together here in Benevolence. They would raise children together and host book clubs and bake sales and work long hours. They would come home to men who loved them, treated them as partners. Their future was so bright and shiny that Gloria couldn’t see through the tears for a moment.

Aldo, reading her thoughts, reached under the table and squeezed her knee. She blinked back the tears, and he mouthed the words that had changed her life.

I love you.

She squeezed his hand back, realizing she had so much more to say to him.

The Garrisons’ number ended, and the entire family paraded off the stage, pausing to hug and kiss Harper. And then Gloria felt the shift in the air.

Luke stood alone in front of the mic, hands in his pockets.

Aldo squeezed her knee again.

Luke cleared his throat, and the noise around the bar died down. “I’d like to dedicate this song to one of the women I’ve been lucky enough to love in this lifetime. I don’t deserve you, Harper, but I hope you won’t hold that against me because I love you with every piece of me.”

Harper squeaked out a sound, her mouth open in shock.

It was Gloria’s heart’s turn to burst with happiness for her friend. Luke had barely begun “Angel Eyes,” and Gloria could see that Harper had already forgiven him. Harper was crying. She was crying. Even Aldo’s eyes looked a little extra glossy.

There was so much love in this room that Gloria thought her heart might not be able to take it. When Luke pulled Harper up on stage, when he kissed her like it was the first and last time, Gloria tugged Aldo to his feet.

Together, they wove their way through the crowd, shaking hands, accepting hugs and congratulations. When they finally made it to the door, Gloria pushed it open and sighed into the quiet night.

Christmas was coming, and the entire town was decked out. Even Remo’s had icicle lights dripping from its porch roof. The night air was crisp and cold and full of promise.