“Way to go, Mom,” he whispered.

“You say what you want now. I can’t do any more,” Lovey said.

When Sully moved to the podium, the room went silent again.

“You’ve all heard my story about not even knowing I was adopted until a few months ago. But you have no idea what finally finding my Janie has meant. I have answers to why I look the way I do. I now know the name of my father. I know why my hair is black and my eyes are dark, and that half of my heritage is Greek. I know that the bonds of parent to child are stronger than anything science could ever prove.

“The moment this happened for us was the moment my lopsided world finally righted. Melissa and I were already in the process of getting ready to move all of my belongings here to Blessings, because I have fallen in love with her and this town. But after forty-five years without knowing I had another mother, little did I know I’d already found her. Finding out she is such an amazing person was a bonus. It’s evident how much my mom is loved and admired here, so I feel like I just won the lottery.”

The room erupted into cheers and clapping, and more tears, and then Lovey stepped up to the podium again.

“Thank you for coming so I could share this news with all of you. I think it’s time we cut this cake and party.”

After that, Lovey was engulfed. Hugs of congratulations, people wanting pictures of Sully and Lovey together, and more congratulations to Sully and Melissa.

Newcomer Cathy Terry had seen the sign on Granny’s and came out of curiosity, and for something to do. Now she was glad that she had. It was a good feeling to know some people still had happy endings in their lives.

People moved in and out of the building and back again, talking among themselves about what a miracle this was, and talking about how strange it was to know and love someone for so many years without knowing anything about their past.

By the time the party was winding down and the caterers were packing up, more than a dozen men stayed behind to help Lovey put Granny’s back together again.

Peanut showed up with a borrowed truck to pick up the pedestal tables the flowers had been on, and they put the flowers in the banquet room to be used tomorrow for the next event.

Finally, Granny’s was in place and ready for morning customers, and Lovey was going around checking locks and equipment in the kitchen to make sure everything had been turned off and cleaned.

As soon as she was satisfied all was well, she went through turning out the lights, and then found Sully and Melissa waiting for her in the lobby.

“I didn’t know you two were still here,” she said.

“I was helping the caterers load up the bar tables and folding chairs so we could take the chain off the parking lot,” Sully said. “It’s all ready to go for tomorrow now.”