I took a deep breath. Looked at Derek. He was a few steps away. I waited.
He moved.
He walked up to June and held out his hands. “Mom. Sophie misses her mom.”
June blinked. “Derek?”
“Give me Sophie.”
He took Sophie from June’s arms and placed her in mine. Gentle. But everyone saw.
Every head turned. Frank stood at the grill, tongs frozen midair. He nodded at me once.
I buried my face in Sophie’s hair. She smelled like someone else’s house — June’s conditioner. But her little arms locked tight around my neck.
“Mommy, you’re so pretty today,” she said.
I smiled. Almost cried.
“Cake time!” June called from across the yard.
She raised a cup of juice at the cake table and announced: “The happiest thing I did this year was taking care of my granddaughter. And my daughter-in-law. Mia, here’s to you. Thank you for giving this family such a sweet little girl.”
