“She’s done it fourteen times in a row.” Seven’s expression is brimming with parental pride. “I’m not throwing all my power into it, but she’s shielding against a significant attack and waging her own counterstrike. She’s very clever.”
“Of course she is.” I press a kiss to her temple. “That’s more than I can do, Arden. I can’t split my luck that way. You’re really talented.”
The smile she gives me tells me everything I need to know. Arden loves this. She climbs to her feet. “Thanks, Seven. Will I see you next week?”
He rises and glances toward me. “You’ll see me tomorrow. At graduation.”
“You’re coming?” Arden looks excitedly between us.
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
She launches herself at him and throws her arms around his neck. “I can’t believe this is real.”
He pats her back, the craziest look of satisfaction on his face. “It’s as real as you want it to be.”
Our eyes lock over her shoulder, and understanding passes between us. Something has shifted. For the first time, I feel like Arden might actually choose to stay. A new warmth sparks in my heart. Is it too much to hope we could one day be a family?
ChapterFour
“Closer to the front, Sophia! My eyes aren’t what they used to be.” Grandma shoves me in the middle of my back. Her bony hands are surprisingly strong. I walk faster up the aisle between the rows of white folding chairs, stopping at the third row of seats reserved for guests. We’re early but already the first two rows are completely full.
“This is as close as we’re going to get without wrestling someone for a seat,” I tell her.
Grandma’s eyes narrow. “I could take ’em. I’m stronger than I look, Sophia.”
“You’re going to get us thrown out of here if you keep staring like an axe murderer.” I nudge her with my elbow.
She shrugs. “Well-behaved women rarely make history.”
“Instead of quoting Laurel Thatcher Ulrich to me, why don’t you grab a seat? It’s the third row, Grandma. Any closer and you risk a sprained neck.” I gesture for her to go in first.
“I want to be on the end.”
I love my grams, but I have to put my foot down. “I have to be on the end to take pictures.”
“Pictures, schmictures. You just want that seat because it’s the best view of the stage.” She fists her knobby hands and rests them on her hips.
“Caught me. I’m pulling the mom card.”
My mother saves me from Grandma’s comeback, tugging her down the row after my father. “Come on. Sophia gets to choose this time.”
Reluctantly, she moves into the row and sits in the seat directly next to mine, arms crossed. “Not sure what a shorty like me is supposed to do in this seat. How am I supposed to watch people from here?”
My mom gives Grandma side-eye and spreads her hands. “You’ll just have to ask your friends to spill the tea after the event.”
“Oh, all right.” Grandma’s voice quivers. “But I hope you know you’re seriously injuring my gossip potential right now.”
Mom sighs and takes the chair between her and Dad.
“Is their room for one more?” I look up from my seat to find Seven standing beside me at a respectable distance. He could be anyone just asking about a seat, but his eyes are filled with longing. I see his fingers twitch. He wants to touch me. He wants to experience this with me. I can read him as if he were saying it out loud.
“You want to sit here? With us?” I love that he’s here, but this is going to be too obvious. My gaze jumps around the crowd.
He stares down at me. “Yes. We should watch this together. It’s important.”
As much as I’d love to sit next to Seven to watch our daughter graduate, this isn’t the time or place to draw attention ourselves. People are already turning to stare, wondering why a Delaney leprechaun is talking to a pixie.
“If you sit with me, it will be a distraction,” I whisper. “These kids deserve undivided attention.”
