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She had to stop another moment, fight back more tears.

“He drew pictures all over the wall in his bedroom. I thought he was napping. Again, I should’ve known better. Drew was so proud I couldn’t get mad at him.

“John and I didn’t paint over it for years, and when we did, John cut out a section, and patched the drywall. And we framed the piece we saved. I still have it.”

She sighed, and when she drew in a breath, drew in the scent of wildflowers, like a meadow basking in sunlight.

“There’s so much more I could tell you. I wrote some out, some memories.” Opening her bag, Martha took out a manila envelope, thick with pages. “But most of all, I want you to know, he was loved from the first second they put him in our arms. He was loved. He was a beautiful boy who became a beautiful man.

“And he was loved.”

She rose, set the envelope on the piano.

She jolted again when the phone in her purse played Alanis Morissette’s “Thank U.”

Then she smiled.

Cleo’s ham proved a success, with enough left over to feed everyone again. Twice.

Sonya got exactly what she’d hoped for—an easy evening with family that blended well. She watched Cleo’s grandmother flirt outrageously with Owen, and Trey simply slide in with the various personalities as if he’d known them all his life.

“A much better choice,” Louisa muttered to her at some point. “But I’ll save my full approval until after I meet his family tomorrow. Something that never happened with thatperson.”

She patted Sonya’s hand. “He has honest eyes.”

They took a walk around the gardens, people and pets, with the lights twinkling just as she’d imagined.

When she kissed her grandparents goodnight, she saw no tears in Martha’s eyes.

“We needed this.” Martha gave her an extra squeeze. “To see, to really understand. I left a long letter for Drew’s birth mother in the music room, on the piano. Silly of me. I think you’d like to have it.”

When the rest left, and Cleo went down to help her family settle into the apartment, Sonya’s mother sat with Trey and Owen in the parlor.

Sonya walked back to the music room, but saw nothing on the piano.

Her phone told her why with Carole King’s “Child of Mine.”

“All right,” she murmured. “You have it, and I hope it brings you some joy.”

As she walked back into the parlor, Winter rose.

“I just promised these two a big pancake breakfast in the morning to get them started on what’s going to be a long day. This was theperfect prelude, my baby, especially for Drew’s mom and dad. They needed this bridge.”

“Nan spent some time with Clover. She left a letter on the piano in the music room, but it’s not there. So I guess Clover spent some time with her.”

“I may not ever get used to that, but I’m going to say good. Now I’m going to follow along with these dogs sprawled on the floor, and the cat curled up on that chair, and get some sleep.”

She bent down, kissed Owen’s cheek, then Trey’s before she walked over to hug Sonya.

“I’ll see you all in the morning.”

As Winter went out, started upstairs, Trey glanced at the doorway. “Well, she’s amazing.”

Sonya plopped into a chair. “She is. And this next stage of The Event is successfully done. So, Owen, you aren’t planning to run off with Cleo’s grand-mère, are you?”

“Tempting. She’s all that and an ice-cold beer. She’s got some stories, man, and knows how to tell them. Nice group. Your grandmother—the tall one—she’s a little scary.”

“Tell me about it.”