“Tell us about yourself, Lauren,” Stephanie asked at dinner.

“I work as a public space designer, which means I design everything from a bus stop to a park to a doctor’s office. I have an older sister, Jen, and she and her husband have a little boy. My mom still works as a reading consultant for the public schools, and my dad . . .” Her voice choked off unexpectedly. “My dad died when I was twenty.”

“So sad,” said Sumi, patting her hand. “Do you like Korean food?”

Lauren smiled. “I love it.”

“I can teach you to cook, just like I taught Joshua!”

“I will not teach you to cook,” said Stephanie, smiling. “I’m a fair gardener, though. And a great baker.”

“Wait till you see Mom’s peonies this spring,” Josh said, and it warmed her through and through. Spring was months away, but he was planning on her being there.

Le sigh.

“Josh has never brought a girl home before,” Ben murmured, leaning in. “We were a little surprised, to be honest. In the best way, of course.” He smiled, and Lauren’s toes curled in her shoes. They liked her. Thank God.

After they all cleaned their plates, Lauren practically wrestled Sumi for the honor of clearing the table. She and Josh loaded the dishes and washed the pots and pans together.

“You’re doing great,” he whispered in a rare moment of picking up on the unspoken.

She let out a breath. “I’m so nervous.”

“Mom likes you. And the Kims love you.”

After tea and coffee, Josh announced it was time to go, his “time spent with loved ones” meter expired. A bit to Lauren’s surprise, Stephanie pulled her into a hug.

“We should have lunch,” she said. “So we can really get to know each other.”

“I would love that,” Lauren said.

When they got into her car, Josh turned to her. “You okay?” he asked.

“I’m wonderful. I love them. They’re so nice, Josh.”

“Yes.” He smiled.

“I hear you’ve never brought a girl home.”

“No. Definitely not one I wanted to marry,” he said.

There it was. That certainty. He looked at her a long minute, then kissed her on the lips, so gently. Joy filled her with a warm, buoyant, golden light.

“I love you,” she said, and they both laughed, then kissed, and kissed some more, and Lauren’s eyes were wet with tears of happiness.