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Mia: I’ll bring the wine. :)

Farrah: One of the many reasons we’re friends.

I put my phone aside, closing my eyes and going over the night before. I could have sworn there was more to Gage’s stare than that of a boss and employee. But maybe I was so desperate from being abandoned in the middle of the dance floor that I’d imagined it.

Either way, we couldnotpursue a relationship. Not with him as my boss and me as his newly divorced employee with three children to think of. So, I threw myself into the busyness of the weekend to distract myself from the yearning building in the pit of my stomach.

I took Levi to his game, dealt with Caleb not showing up—again—and then prepared us to move out of my parents’ house.

The for-rent sign had been removed from our new home, and a stack of boxes sat on the front porch—deliveries from online stores bringing new furniture, beds in a box, sheets, curtains, all the fixings of a home, thanks to the generosity of one Gage Griffen.

But these people in the van with me? They would make this home complete regardless of the furnishings inside. For how difficult the divorce and moving had been, starting a new life, a new job as a single mom... I couldn’t imagine doing it without these precious humans at my side.

My parents parked beside me in the driveway and we all got out, checking out the place. I handed Andrew my key ring, with the key to the house separated. “Do you want to unlock the door for the first time we stay here all night?”

He nodded excitedly, taking the keys and running to the front door as Levi trailed behind. My dad came beside me, putting his arm around my shoulders, and Mom held Cora’s hand as we walked to the front door after Andrew.

“Looks like you have a lot of stuff ready,” Dad said, gesturing to all the boxes from my orders.

“We’ll be busy for sure,” I agreed, thankful they offered to help me put together furniture and get us all set up. Between thrifting trips over the last couple weeks and the orders I made with credit card points, we had just about everything we would need.

Andrew unlocked the door, and we stepped inside. Mom gushed over the granite countertops, and Dad pointed out loose doorknobs and a slanted cabinet door he wanted to fix.

We all came together in the empty living room, and I took it in, knowing this home was a blank page, a new beginning.

Levi pushed up the sleeves of his long-sleeve T-shirt. “Can I set up the TV and Xbox?”

“It’s not a home without videogames, is it?” I teased. “You can as long as you build the TV stand too.”

With a determined look, he walked to the front door to get the packages he needed off the porch.

Andrew said, “Can I hang up the art I made?”

“Let me get you the tacky.” I had a little container of sticky tacky in my purse so we wouldn’t leave tons of holes in the walls. Once I handed the case to Andrew, he was off with his stack of drawings to paper our house.

Once upon a time, I might have tried to make the house more aesthetic, but it was important for Andrew to make his mark. To feel like he had a real hand in making this home ours.

Mom said, “Cora Bug, why don’t you help me in the kitchen. I’ll let you use the scissors on the shelf liner.”

Cora clapped her hands together, a little too excitedly. “Can I cut it like a heart?”

Mom chuckled. “We’ll see.” She patted Cora’s back as they walked toward the kitchen, Mom carrying a tub of cleaning supplies.

Then it was just Dad, Levi, and me in the living room. “Where should we start?” Dad asked.

For the next several hours, we whipped through putting bedroom furniture together. It reminded me of working with him in the coffee shop, moving in tandem. He used to have me in charge of cleaning the shop, wiping down all the tables and chairs in between the rush of customers. We’d get to the store early and handle shipments, even get the place ready to open together. I almost forgot how much I liked being on his team.

If I thought about it, Gage was a lot like Dad. My dad was bubblier and more conversational, but he had high standards too and worked harder than anyone else. He expected his employees to be the best, just like Gage.

We started with Cora’s bed, a beautiful floor-level twin-size frame that came up, resembling a house. I’d splurged a little on a floral wreath I wrapped around the frame. Mom had washed the sheets for me the day before, so we started airing out the mattress, leaving the pink folded sheets and blankets on top.

Dad pointed at Andrew’s art on the wall. “Kid’s got some talent.”

I stared at the drawing, my eyes stinging. He’d colored in her favorite colors—pink and purple—PRINCESS CORA’S ROOM with a crown atop her name. “He’s so thoughtful.”

Dad put his arm around me and tilted his head against mine. “I know it’s been a rough few months, but I’m so proud of you, kid. Look what you’ve done with your back against the wall.”

I wiped at my eyes. “My back’s never against the wall with you and Mom on my side.”