“Papa?”

Everyone turned to the little girl standing in the doorway. Zoya and Jeff Bunker stood behind her. “I tried to get her to watch a movie,” Zoya said, “but she was afraid that Gideon was being mean to her papa. If it’s all right with you, we’ll go back to Dad’s office. Jeff’s mom is waiting and Dad’s got the movie on pause. It’s Mulan. Jeff’s never seen it.” Without waiting for a reply, the two teenagers left.

Behind her, Rafe sighed. “Can I still hate him?”

“I don’t think so,” Mercy murmured. “Abigail? You can come sit with us if you want to. We’re not being mean to your papa.”

Amos smiled sadly at Abigail. “Gideon’s not mean at all. He’s kinder than I deserve. Come.”

Abigail climbed into his lap, staring Gideon down until Daisy chuckled. “Tell her you’re sorry for being mean to her daddy, Gideon.”

“I am very sorry,” Gideon said obediently.

Abigail lifted her chin. “You should be. He has your picture and everything.” She patted Amos’s shirt pocket. “In here.”

Amos drew three faded Polaroid photos from his shirt pocket and put them on the table.

It took Mercy a moment to realize what she was looking at. A little boy, about six, looking so serious. A chubby-cheeked girl, toddler age. And a woman smiling brilliantly. “It’s us.” Her gaze jerked up to meet Gideon’s. “It’s us. And Mama.”

“Oh,” Daisy breathed. “Gideon, look at you.”

“You were adorable,” Rafe said, putting his hand at the small of Mercy’s back.

But Mercy and Gideon only had eyes for the picture of their mother. She wore a huge smile, like she’d been laughing. Mercy shuddered out a breath. “I almost forgot what she looked like.”

Gideon reached for the Polaroid but jerked his hand back, afraid to touch it. “Me too.”

Mama’s so happy. “I have her locket, but I can’t look at that picture. Ephraim’s in it.” And Mama wasn’t happy after that, ever again.

Gideon didn’t say a word, but the look they shared said enough. Then Mercy nearly cried again when Gideon reached across the table to grip her hand in his, then took Amos’s hand with the other. Mercy completed the circle, taking Amos’s other hand, and she hoped he could understand what they couldn’t find the words to say.

Thank you. Welcome home.

Amos’s eyes grew shiny and then he was crying openly, which set off Mercy’s tears. Gideon didn’t cry, but his lips pursed hard, the muscle twitching in his cheek as he fought to keep his composure. Others around the table weren’t as successful at keeping their emotions in check. Mercy could hear their sniffles and was unsurprised to see Farrah leaning into André’s shoulder, her shoulders shaking with sobs. André’s eyes were also suspiciously bright, which also wasn’t a surprise. Mercy had observed his tender heart many times over the years and felt her own heart flood with gratitude that her best friend had found such a good man.