“Probably. We haven’t talked about it yet, but that makes the most sense.”

“Good.” She snuggled deeper under her covers. “I don’t want to move again. I like my new room.”

“I’m glad.” I smoothed her hair back from her face. “You’re sure you’re okay with all this? If you’re not, it’s okay to tell me.”

“I’m sure. This doesn’t feel like it did with Dad and Kimmy, if that’s what you’re worried about. It feels really different.”

“Good.”

“I’m happy for you, Mom.”

“Thank you.”

“Can I be in the wedding?”

I laughed. “Sure. You’ll have to help me plan.”

“Really? You mean it?”

“Of course. You know, if it weren’t for you, none of this would have happened. So we should be thanking you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, her voice full of teenage smug.

Laughing, I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

“Night, Mom.”

* * *

The following night, we were all gathered in the great room with drinks at my parents’ house before dinner when Henry surprised me by asking for everyone’s attention. He definitely wasn’t someone who enjoyed all eyes in a room on him, and this wasn’t how we’d discussed sharing our news.

Taking my hand, he brought me in front of the fireplace and turned to face the crowd. Everyone was there—my parents and kids, April, Mack and Frannie’s family, Meg and Noah, Chloe and Oliver. Even Noah’s dog Renzo was lying on the floor at his feet. When everyone was quiet and looking in our direction, Henry glanced at me. “Sylvia and I have something to tell you.”

My stomach jumped nervously. My sisters were going back and forth between studying me intently and exchanging frantic eye contact with each other, trying to guess what this was about. I could practically hear their voices in my head. Do you know? I don’t know. Does Mom know? I don’t think Mom knows.

Only my children looked calm and unsurprised, sitting next to each other on the couch with my parents, grinning like mad.

Henry dropped to his knee, and someone in the room gasped. “Sylvia,” he said, taking my hand. “You know I’m not a guy who likes the spotlight, and I generally avoid drawing this much attention to myself. But this isn’t just about me.”

I squeezed his hand, fighting back tears.

“Your family has always been such a huge part of your life, and in the last ten years, they’ve become part of mine too. From my very first day on the job here, I was welcomed and accepted, and they supported me without question when I needed it. They made me feel like I belonged. So it seemed only right to say this in front of them, and in front of your children, the two most important people in your life.”