“Hi, kiddo.” He smiled, chin resting on the top of her head. Alex looked back over her shoulder toward the sofa, where the two mothers were embraced. Inaudible, tearful words passed between them before they broke apart to look at each other, Elena’s hands still resting lightly on Marjane’s shoulders.

“It’s so good to see you,” she said, giving the gentlest squeeze before bringing her hands to her own face to wipe away her tears.

“Elena, my darling friend,” Marjane replied, leaning onto her cane. “Welcome to my home.”

“It’s wonderful to see you again, sir.” Alex turned around at the sound of Danial’s words behind her. He extended his hand and her father shook it in his before pulling him in for yet another bear hug.

“Please—it’s Nick.” He laughed.

Alex involuntarily smiled at the sight of him: his neatly combed-back gray hair, his nicest shirt-and-slacks combo—an outfit her mother undoubtedly picked out for him—and the fact that it was almost kickoff for a Bills-Dolphins game and he was nowhere near a television.

“Mom, hi,” Alex opened, walking over to the sofa where the mothers were now seated, hands still together between them.

“Baby, I’m so sorry!” Elena replied, standing and opening her arms wide to her daughter. “I was just so caught up saying hello to Marjane—but surprise! Here we are!”

“Here you are!” Alex laughed, feeling delirious.

“You look great,” Elena said, and Alex simply accepted the compliment.

“Would you like some tea?” Marjane asked, gesturing toward the bounty on the coffee table.

“I would love some!” Elena replied, clapping her freshly manicured hands together, bracelets jingling.

“Excuse me,” Alex said, clearing her throat and padding across the carpet to the hallway. She walked down the tiled hall to a small powder room just before the kitchen, stepping inside without fully shutting the door behind her. Her heart was racing, her breath coming in jagged waves, so much emotion coursing through her body that she felt she might faint if she didn’t support herself with both hands on the porcelain sink.

“Alex?” Danial’s voice was only just behind her, soft and full of that reassuring depth. He opened the cracked door just enough to join her, closing it behind him. “Is everything alright?”

“You flew my parents out here?” she asked, looking up at him with tears rimming her eyes, one hand still resting on the sink.

“Of course.” He smiled, tenderly cradling her chin in his hand, “I hope that’s okay. I know surprises are a bit of a gamble.”

“No.” She inhaled sharply, willing herself to become calm. “It’s wonderful, I just can’t believe you did that. And—” Her mind swirled with the waves of information crashing over her. “I’m sorry, but how much have our moms been talking on Facebook?”

“They’ve been messaging since they met.”

“At graduation?”