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“What about watching a movie?” she suggested. “I used to fall asleep on the couch all the time while watching a movie.”

Taking the glass from her hand and turning her around, Matthew lifted Katherine’s chin to lock eyes with her. “Just because Libby’s not here doesn’t mean anything has changed. I promised we’d wait, and I’m keeping that promise. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Now, come on,” Matthew said. “Show me to your room.”

As she led him through the darkened house, up the stairs, and into her bedroom, Katherine’s pulse quickened with each step. But when they entered the room and she saw Addison’s things still laid out on the floor, she forgot all about being nervous.

“Sorry for the mess.” She rushed over, wanting to get everything picked up and put back inside the hope chest before she started to cry. “I forgot all this was still sitting out.”

Matthew followed, crouching down beside her. “Can I help?”

“You don’t have to.”

“I’d like to. And we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

“Okay.”

Quietly, they gathered up every precious item of Addison’s. For Katherine, it felt almost as comfortable as cleaning up the kitchen had been. No words needed. No discussion required. They just worked through it together. Even though she could tell that he also had to work at keeping his curiosity at bay as he handed her item after item.

Last but not least, he arranged the photographs into a neat stack with a picture of Katherine holding Addison on top.

“Beautiful,” he said, making Katherine beam with pride.

“Yes, she was.”

“I meant the both of you.”

Without responding, Katherine took the photos from his hand.

“You know, I’ve seen that picture before,” he began. “When I was at your parents’ place. In fact, I saw quite a few pictures of you.”

Katherine had forgotten that Matthew went to dinner in the house she grew up in. Oh, the pictures he must’ve seen. Bloodshot eyes with dark circles under them, no makeup, messy hair, and that exhausted expression she wore the weeks after Addy was born. Not to mention all the awkward and embarrassing photos from her youth. Hideous reminders of bad hairstyles and outdated fashion.

“Sorry about that.”

“I’m not,” he said softly. “You were a beautiful young woman. You still are.”

“I’m sure no one thought of me as beautiful back then,” she scoffed, closing the hope chest, remembering the times Max told her how tired and run-down she looked. How he’d say sheshould fix her hair or put on some makeup whenever company was coming by.

“What makes you say that?”

“No one thinks of a sleep-deprived mother as beautiful. You should’ve seen me the first few weeks after Addy was born.”

Katherine tried to move away, but Matthew grabbed her by the hand.

“I wish I had.” His voice was gentle, and she could hear the sincerity in it. “I’m sure you were still just as beautiful.”

“Please stop.”

“Why? Youarebeautiful. You were beautiful in that picture, and I’m sure you were just as beautiful the moment you gave birth.”

“I was red faced and sweaty with a bunch of broken blood vessels from a long and hard labor. Besides, you’ve seen me in the morning. You can imagine how crazy my hair looked.”

“What I can imagine,” Matthew began, touching her face, “is who made you feel that way. And I’m telling you he was wrong.”

Smiling, Katherine leaned into Matthew’s arms and let him hold her. Standing there in each other’s embrace, they both began to feel the day catching up with them as he yawned, and she answered with her own.