He gave me a patient look. “You are having a baby, yeah?”

“Not for seven more months. Our baby won’t care. Besides, your boys need time to get used to me. My mother still needs me. And I . . . I’m not ready to leave my family.”

“Einverstanden. You are here. My boys are here. I will stay.”

“But the restaurant . . . Your job is in New York. Oh.” I yanked my hair. “I have to think.”

Eric smiled. “You think. I will wait. And then we will get married.”

I crossed my arms. “You’re not marrying me because I’m pregnant.”

“No,” he agreed. “I am marrying you because I love you.” His face softened. “Beautiful Jo.”

My eyes were wet, which made it hard to see, but I thought his were, too. I kissed him. We kissed a long time, until Amy called us in to dinner.

“Sorry to interrupt,” my sister said cheerfully. “But in another minute John is going to come out and demand to know your intentions, and the rest of us are hungry.”

We went inside, where we were met with a considering look from Trey and a quick smile and thumbs-up from Meg. DJ had stripped off his diaper and ran giggling around the living room, pursued by John. Alec galloped by with Daisy on his back. Lady pressed against the sofa, whining adoringly up at Weasley, who stared disdainfully back. Aunt Phee was directing the placement of the dining room chairs while Beth and Hannah tried to get food on the table.

“Welcome to March Family Madness,” I murmured to Bryan, and was rewarded by a flickering smile.

We all trooped into the dining room. John helped our mother to a chair at the head of the table. After a pause, my father took a seat beside Aunt Phee. So that was different.

“Ashton, will you say grace?” my mother asked.

That, too, was new, my father needing an invitation to speak.

We joined hands around the table. Eric’s knee, warm and firm, pressed mine.

My father bowed his head. “Lord, bless this food for our use and our bodies to your service. May we lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, riches that endure. For where our treasure is, there will our hearts be also.”

“Amen,” our mother said, and we all echoed, “Amen.”

“Not that there’s anything wrong with a little treasure here on earth,” Aunt Phee added. She leveled a look at John. “What’s this I hear about your quitting your job to go back to teaching?”

I smothered a grin.

Dishes were passed. Plates were filled. Everybody was shoveling food and talking. Trey dealt manfully with Phee while John discussed working summers at the dealership with old Mr. Laurence. My father said something (I heard the words noble calling) that won a surprised look from John and a nod from the old man. Amy broke off a conversation with Hannah to show Bryan something on her phone. Beth had overcome her shyness to draw out Alec about an upcoming school play.