“Isn’t it cool? You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to find. Come on, get in, everyone.” She opened the door and they all piled into the plush black interior. Tiny red and blue lights illuminated the ceiling.

Marah snuggled close to Tully, held her hand. “This is the best surprise ever,” she said. “Did you think I was good?”

“You were perfect,” Tully said.

They stayed in the car for the entire ferry ride; not once did Marah stop talking to Tully.

On the Seattle side, the car started up again and they were driven around the city as if they were tourists on vacation, then they pulled into a brightly lit porte cochere, where a hotel doorman came out to greet them. He opened the door and bent down. “And which of you lovely ladies is Marah Rose?”

Marah instantly raised her hand, giggling. “I am.”

He pulled a single pink rose from behind his back and handed it to her.

Marah looked awestruck. “Wow.”

“Say thank you, Marah,” Kate said more sharply than she’d intended.

Marah threw her an irritated look. “Thank you.”

Tully led them into the hotel. On the top floor, she opened the door to a gigantic suite where all kinds of kid-type play stations had been set up—bouncing rooms and virtual boxing and miniature bumper cars. All the girls from the recital were already there with their families. In the center of the room was a white-draped table. On it was a huge tiered pink cake adorned with tiny frosted ballerinas.

“Aunt Tully,” Marah screamed, hugging her. “This is awesome. I love you.”

“I love you, too, princess. Now go play with your friends.”

Everyone stood there for a moment, stunned. Johnny recovered first. Carrying William, he sidled up to Tully. “This is not spoiling her?”

“I wanted to get a pony, but I thought that would be over the top.”

Mom laughed. Dad shook his head. “Come on, Margie, Johnny,” he finally said. “Let’s check out the bar.”

When Kate and Tully were alone, Kate said, “You sure know how to make an entrance. Marah will be talking about this for years.”

“Too much?” Tully asked.

“Perhaps just a bit.”

Tully gave her a bright smile, but it wasn’t the real thing. Kate instantly recognized the pretense. “What’s wrong?”

Before Tully could answer, Marah came bouncing back, her little face shining with joy. “We all want a picture with you, Aunt Tully.”

Kate stood there, watching her daughter practically swoon over her godmother. Although she hated to admit it, she felt a pinch of jealousy. This was supposed to have been their night; hers and Marah’s.

Tully sat in the limousine, with Marah’s head in her lap, stroking her goddaughter’s silky black hair.