Clare knew the silver gown was Chanel couture, the shoes were Manolo Blahnik, and the jewelry was on loan from Harry Winston. A team of stylists had worked for weeks to prepare Kate for the big night. She was up for best new artist and song of the year for “I Thought I Knew.”

Jill and Maggie had flown to Los Angeles the day before to accompany their sister to the award ceremony. They’d called earlier from inside the auditorium and were having a blast hobnobbing with the biggest stars in country music.

Aidan put his arm around Clare. “I’m so excited.”

She smiled and kissed him. They’d been married almost a year ago in a small ceremony at his house in Stowe. Their marriage had cleared the way for the adoption of Max a month later. Lately, they’d been talking about finding him a companion.

Jack had passed along a few leads to Aidan, and before he knew it, he was firmly established in the restoration business in historic Newport. Clare knew she shouldn’t have been surprised when her new husband struck up an unlikely friendship with her ex-husband. Her goal of holidays together was now a reality, and Max referred to “Uncle” Jack’s sons as his cousins. Her life had come full circle, and Clare was content—again.

“This is it,” Aidan said.

Martina McBride and Alan Jackson announced the nominees for best new artist.

Clare buried her face in Aidan’s shirt. “I can’t stand it.”

“Look!” Aidan hollered. “There they are! Jill and Maggie!”

Max clapped his pudgy hands with glee at the sight of his sisters on TV.

“And the award goes to…Kate Harrington,” Alan Jackson said.

The arena went wild, and Clare finally looked up in time to see Kate hug her sisters, Buddy, and Taylor on her way to the stage. As she accepted the award and a kiss on the cheek from Martina, Kate’s blue eyes were wide with excitement and tears.

“Oh, my goodness,” she said with a hand on her chest as she tried to catch her breath. “There’re so many people I need to thank. Buddy and Taylor, you’ve been so much more to me than mentors. You’re my Nashville family, and I love you both.”

Buddy and Taylor wiped away tears and blew kisses to Kate from the front row.