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Nora gets up and gives Kate a hug. “Good to see you.” After they break from their embrace, Nora holds her at arm’s length. “Look at you. You’re beaming.”

“You mean you can’t tell I was up half the night with Silas? And the night before that? And all the ones before that as well?”

“Absolutely not.”

“You’re too kind.” Kate looks at me. “Michelle, right? Stella’s new boss?”

“I wouldn’t say boss.” I plaster on my widest smile.

Nora clears her throat.

Kate sinks into a chair. “I’m glad you’re all here, and I get that Stella wanted to have a party, but fuck, I’m so tired.” She turns her head to me. “You have four children, don’t you? Any tips are welcome.”

I send Kate a soft smile. “The first few years, when they’re entirely reliant on you, are always hard. And the first child is a massive shock to your system, because it’s so much more challenging than you could ever have imagined. Try to get as much sleep as possible. You can deal better with everything if you manage to get some sleep.”

“Yeah.” Kate just nods wistfully.

“Are you back at work as well?” Nora asks.

“Only part-time,” Kate says. “I want to be there for Silas as much as I can, especially now that Stella’s back to it.” She expels a deep sigh. “He’s with his granny tonight, so we can at least sleep in tomorrow.”

“Raising a child will be the hardest thing you’ll ever do, but also the best. Take it from a woman who has brought up four. There’s simply nothing else like it.” I give her my most encouraging smile.

“Kate!” someone yells. “Can you come over here, please?”

“Duty calls.” She pushes herself out of the chair. “Thanks for the advice, Michelle.”

After Kate has left, Nora peers at me through narrowed eyes.

“You look like you have a burning question on your mind?” I hold up my palms. “Shoot. I don’t have many secrets.”

“Did you raise your kids alone?”

“Good heavens, no. Their father’s still around, but we divorced when Austin was ten.”

It’s almost as if I can see her doing the math in her head.

“But you consider yourself ‘extremely gay.’” Nora’s directness doesn’t offend me—it’s quite refreshing, actually.

“I am and I’ve always known. But I wanted a family, so I married a man. It seemed by far the easiest way to go about it.” I scan Nora’s face for a reaction, but it’s quite expressionless. “Things were very different when I was in my twenties.”

Nora nods pensively. “Did your husband know?”

Austin interrupts me before I can reply.

“Mom!” he says. “You’re hogging Nora.” He flashes Nora a big smile.

“I was under the distinct impression you’d lost all interest in your big idol,” I say.

Austin brings a dramatic hand to his chest. “How dare you even insinuate such a thing. Please don’t listen to my mother, Nora.”

“I’ll do my best not to.” Nora grins at Austin. “I hope Juan is behaving himself.”

Austin’s face goes soft. But he’s my youngest, and I’ve learned to go with the flow—with the many ups and downs—of my children’s love life and dating shenanigans. He will always be my baby and I can’t bear for him to have his heart broken, but it’s a long way from flirtation to heartbreak—most of the time.

“Juan’s amazing.” Austin slants himself toward Nora and half-whispers, so I can still hear him say, “We’re going on a date next week.”

“Jesus,” Nora mutters. “You’re certainly not wasting any time.”