Page 90 of Perfect Composition

Both Kensington women have their arms crossed, a leg kicked out, and a foot tapping. “You look like warriors,” I declare, making my way between them. I bestow a kiss on each of their heads before reaching for a mug to get coffee.

Jesse growls. Ethan chokes.

“Oh, get over yourself, both of you.” Austyn flounces away, leaving the four adults in the kitchen.

Jesse holds up a hand. “I don’t have much to say.”

Paige interjects. “Good.”

I smooth my hand over her back. Ethan growls at the gesture. I use my other hand to flick him off.

“But what I will say is this. My father was both right and wrong. Paige was worth protecting, yes. But not for the reasons he did it. She was worth protecting because of exactly who she is.”

And because I agree with him, I hold out my hand. “And that’s everything.”

Jesse hesitates only for a moment before he shakes it. “Yes.”

Ethan isn’t so tactful. “Don’t fuck this up.”

“I don’t plan on it.”

Paige wedges between all of us and declares, “If any of you expect a day filled with merry and bright, you will cease this conversation as if I’m not here. I am a grown woman. I am not a child who needs coddling from any of you.” Her fierce gaze rakes over me as well.

Ethan opens his mouth to say something when he takes an elbow to the gut from Jesse. “Right. We’ll go pile our gifts up with the others.”

Paige groans. “We’re going to be opening gifts for hours.”

Ethan calls over his shoulder, “Like this is anything new?”

We stand together as they begin doling out package after package—most for Austyn. Paige sighs dejectedly. “Nothing I can do will convince them she doesn’t needthings.”

“What does she need?”

She rests against my chest. “Up until now, I’d have said stability, but every day I’m learning we find stability in happiness. And your daughter found it in much the same way you did.”

“With music,” I deduce.

“Yes. That’s why my gift to her isn’t material, per se. It’s a dream.”

“What does that mean?”

Paige smiles up at me. “You’ll see. Get your coffee, Dad. You’re going to need it.” She picks up a plate of enormous cinnamon rolls and heads back into the fray, shouting, “Did someone get trash bags from the garage?”

“On it,” Ethan yells, jumping up from behind his smallish pile of gifts.

Paige reminds us, “All gifts are numbered. If they aren’t, then you’d better ask if there’s a special order.”

“Christ, you’re organized,” I mutter.

“If I wasn’t I’d have lost my mind long ago,” she replies sweetly. “Now, if we want to finish sometime before supper is on, everybody go ahead and dig in!”

Austyn doesn’t hesitate. Immediately she dives for the bag with#1printed on it. And immediately laughs when she pulls out an empty Christian Louboutin shoe box. “So classy, Mama.”

“I paid a fortune for those heels. I hope they’re not being worn by your roommate.”

Austyn snickers. “No, because even though I was worried about you, I packed them.”

Paige beams at her. “I raised such a bright child.”