“What’s going on?” I asked. There was a grill heating up. My parents were dancing. Kids were running through the gardens. It was still unfinished, would need time and work. But there were string lights hanging from the wall down to the fence. Paper lanterns on the tables. Flowers blooming. A sign, in the front, that read Welcome to Annie’s Pocket Park.

“Tabitha?” I glanced over and was swept away by the joy on her face.

“Surprise,” she sang softly. “Late last night, a member of Kathleen’s book club got me connected with a land bank here in the city. They do the opposite of what Oswald Properties does. They purchase abandoned lots from the city but then give full control of their care and maintenance to the neighborhood. For things like parks and community gardens. We were lucky because Oswald hadn’t purchased it yet, so the land bank swept in with the paperwork to purchase it at auction. It’ll take a few weeks for everything to finalize, but at the end, this lot will be yours. Ours.” She turned to me, cupping my cheek. “Kathleen’s book club and all the neighbors were happy to plan a classic Tenth Street block party totally last minute. Rowan and your parents were supposed to be distracting you all day so that you wouldn’t notice.”

I arched an eyebrow. “So that’s why they wouldn’t leave me alone. But it wouldn’t have mattered. I was too focused on figuring out how to show you how much I loved you.”

Her lips curved. “You definitely showed me.”

I rubbed a hand across my mouth, stunned at the joy surrounding us.

“The neighbors wanted to celebrate the good news that the park was saved. And I was very happy to celebrate you, Dean Knox-Morelli. As was this group of people, our found family, who adore you so very much.”

Eddie and Alice sat on their bench with Pam. Kathleen was serving punch with Tabitha’s dad. Tabitha’s sister and brother-in law were showing the garden to her niece. Rowan held a beer while dancing with my parents, a goofy grin on his face. Neighbors spread out, eating, laughing. Music filled the street. The skyline rose in the distance as people walked by, joining in the festivities.

Weeks ago, I would have stood off to the side, guarded. Ready for stares and whispers. Unsure of my place. Now I stood hand in hand with Tabitha, prepared to face the world together.