Charlotte opened her eyes, really opened them, and stared up at her great-grandmother with an intensity that seemed impossible for someone so new to the world.
“She sees me,” Grandma Sarah said. “Look at that. She actually sees me.”
“Babies can't really focus at this age,” Sarah said. “Their vision is...”
“Hush. She sees me. Don't argue with an old woman holding a baby.”
“Actually,” Emily interjected, “newborns can focus on objects eight to twelve inches from their face. Grandma Sarah is holding Charlotte at approximately ten inches. It's within the optimal range for infant visual focus.”
Grandma Sarah shot Emily a triumphant look. “See? Science agrees with me.”
“I didn't say she recognizes you,” Emily clarified. “Just that she can see you. Recognition requires cognitive development that won't occur for several more weeks.”
“I'll take what I can get.”
Maggie slipped away from the group and found Chelsea in the kitchen, pulling together ingredients for what looked like might become lunch.
“Need help?” Maggie asked.
“Always. Grab that cutting board.”
They worked together for a few minutes, the sounds of familydrifting in from the living room: Lauren's laugh, Grandma Sarah's voice telling some story, the occasional squeak from one of the twins, and Emily's precise voice offering some fact or observation.
“I almost forgot to tell you,” Maggie said, reaching for an onion. “Rachel called yesterday.”
Chelsea's head snapped up. “Rachel Adams How is she?”
“Good. Busy with the vineyard. She's been thinking about the old days, apparently.”
“Aren't we all.”
“She wants to get the Lunch Bunch together. This summer at her vineyard. Everyone who's still around.” Maggie paused, the knife hovering over the cutting board. “She asked about you specifically.”
Chelsea's face lit up in a way that took ten years off her age. “The Lunch Bunch reunion? Really? Oh, Maggie, that would be wonderful. I haven't seen Rachel in since she came to Captiva. And the others?”
“She's reaching out to everyone. But here’s the best part. Rachel and Jack are getting married.”
“I can't believe it. Married? That’s wonderful news. We’ll celebrate when we get together. The Lunch Bunch.” Chelsea shook her head slowly, smiling. “Remember when we used to meet every month at that little café near the library? We thought we were so sophisticated, drinking our lattes and complaining about our husbands. It made sense to finally have the meetings at our homes, before I permanently moved to Captiva, that is.”
“I remember you gave me advice about Daniel once. Told me I deserved better.”
“You did deserve better. You do deserve better.” Chelsea glanced toward the living room, where Paolo's laugh had just joined the chorus. “And look at you now. You found it.”
“I did.” Maggie set down the knife and looked at her friend, this woman who had been there through everything, who hadwatched her fall apart and helped her put herself back together. “Thank you, Chelsea. For all of it. For being here now.”
“Where else would I be?” Chelsea reached over and squeezed her hand. “We're family, Maggie. Not by blood, but by choice, but it still means you can never get rid of me.”
Maggie smiled. The house was full. Her mother was here, her daughters were here, her grandchildren were being passed from arm to arm like precious gifts. The Andover house still waited to be dealt with, and since Christopher and Becca hadn't arrived yet, there were a thousand things still to be sorted and packed and decided upon.
But right now, in this moment, everything was exactly as it should be.
“Come on,” she said to Chelsea, untying her apron. “The onions can wait. I don't want to miss this.”
They walked back into the living room together, where Grandma Sarah was still holding both twins while Lauren took photos and Sarah looked on in amazement. Emily stood nearby, ready to assist if needed, her posture still slightly apart from the group but her presence undeniably part of it.
“Mom, you're going to drop one of them,” Maggie said.
“I have never dropped a baby in my life and I'm not about to start now.” Grandma Sarah looked up at her daughter with fierce pride.
