"We're getting there." Emma stands, hands Ethan to Chase, who just walked in. She crosses to Maya and pulls her into a hug. "I love you, even when I'm furious with you."
"I love you too."
They hold each other for a long moment, and I see Maya's shoulders shake with silent sobs. Chase catches my eye and jerks his head toward the living room. I follow him out, giving them the space they need.
"She's been working up to that all day," he says once we're out of earshot. "The trial changed something for her. Seeing Maya that strong, that brave, Emma realized she'd been underestimating her."
"She never underestimated Maya."
"No, but she's been so focused on protecting everyone else that she forgot Maya doesn't need protecting anymore. She needs support, there's a difference."
He's right. Emma spent so long taking care of everyone. Our Mom, when I moved out, Maya when her mom passed, Chase when he was too stubborn to admit he loved her. She forgot how to let people take care of themselves.
"Thanks," I tell him. "For talking to her, for being on our side."
"I'm always on your side, man, even when you're being an idiot." He grins. "Which is often."
We head back to the kitchen. Maya and Emma are laughing about something, shoulder to shoulder at the stove, and the sight makes my chest tight. Ethan's on the floor with plastic containers, stacking them into a tower.
"Block!" Ethan announces proudly.
"That's not a block, buddy," Chase says. "That's Tupperware."
"Block!"
Emma rolls her eyes, stirring something on the stove. "He's decided everything is a block now. I’ve given up correcting him."
Max wanders over and sniffs at Ethan's tower, then walks away, obviously not interested.
Dinner is chaos in the best way. Ethan throws food, Max begs shamelessly, and Emma actually smiles when she catches Maya and me holding hands under the table. We talk about Sofia's progress, the trial verdict, and the upcoming road trip.
"Two weeks," Chase groans. "I'm going to miss so much with Sofia."
"We'll video call every day," Emma promises. "And she'll still be tiny when you get back."
"What if she forgets me?"
"Nobody could forget your obnoxious ass."
"Rude."
Maya laughs, and the sound fills the room like light. I realize how much I've missed hearing it freely, without the weight of secrets pressing down on all of us.
After dinner, Emma pulls out her phone. "Mom called earlier. She's coming back next week to stay for a bit."
I freeze, my fork halfway to my mouth. "She's staying here?"
"Yeah, to actually meet Sofia this time. NICU's loosened up on visitors now that she's doing better." Emma looks between Maya and me, something knowing in her expression. "She can have the spare room now, right?" She waggles her eyebrows at us.
Maya's face heats. "Emma."
"What? I'm just saying, you two finally have your own space." Emma grins. "Anyway, she'll figure it out the second she sees you together."
"I know," Maya says.
"And?"
"Let her figure it out." Maya touches the pendant at her throat. "I'm done hiding."
