“Three adult couples cohabitating? This is not exactly a typical living arrangement,” Dimitri observes.
“More common in some cultures,” Madison says, shrugging one shoulder.
“It’s worked pretty well so far. Everyone has their own spaces carved out,” Eleanor contends.
“I don’t want to leave either,” Nicole confesses.
Dimitri’s eyes cut to her, and his expression shifts and gentles. “No, mymed?”
“No. It takes a village, right?” she says with a single laugh, hand going to her stomach. “This is a pretty good village.”
“It was Wesley who brought us all together. I suppose, in a way, it is very fitting that it should be him that provides the means to keep us together. Very well. I approve.”
“What do you think, Madison?” Eleanor asks.
The last addition to the house, the last word on the subject. She grins. “I mean, Wesley is stuck with me no matter what, but you think there’s anywhere I’d rather be than in this giant house as Nicole and Dimitri fill it with their giant babies and giant dogs?” She winks at Nicole. “Aunt Madison. Has a nice ring to it. I’msoin.”
“I will continue to train everyone so no one gets soft,” Dimitri declares—or is it a threat? Either way, he seems chuffed at theprospect.
“Hey, guys,” Madison interrupts, voice low. “In all seriousness, I just want to say… All I’ve ever wanted is to feel seen and understood and accepted.” Her eyes cut to me, and her smile is so full of meaning that my heart aches with it.
“Myabuelasays that you need people in your life so you’re not lonely. And she’s right, but she’s only half right—because I think I’ve come to realize that it’s not just having people in your life that makes you feel less alone. It’s having therightpeople in your life.”
“The right people,” I echo, glancing around the room at all the right people in mine. I reach for Madison and lay a heavy hand on her thigh. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“To the right people,” Eleanor declares, lifting her champagne.
“To the family we’ll be,” Nicole adds, lifting her water.
“To the one we are now,” Mac counters, winking at her, lifting his beer.
“To… us.Za zdoróvye!” Dimitri finishes with a nod, considering the matter settled as he bangs his glass on the table and downs the entirety of his vodka without waiting to clink glasses with anyone.
“To us,” Madison echoes, leaning forward and tilting her head up for a kiss.
I meet her halfway.
Epilogue
Madison
I wind my jacket over my arm, mostly out of habit, and knock on her door. “Hi Abuela,” I greet her softly, crossing the room to join her at her puzzle table.
She turns to me with a slightly blank, but happy look.“Ah,m’hijita!Ven, siéntate a mi lado.”
I sit, feeling an odd nostalgia at the kitten puzzle she’s working on. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it before. “I came to give you some good news, Abuela,” I tell her, taking her hand in both of mine and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Wesley came with me. He’s going to speak to the vice president about getting you into an experimental trial.” The fact that he’s still on the board here after all this time still amuses me.
“Wesley?” she repeats, confused. Her eyes dart behind me, and I know she’s seeing him in the doorway. Her eyes brighten, and she gives me a coy look. “Wesley. Right. Your…” her eyes flick down and her brows shoot up. A smile cracks her face, deepening every wrinkle around her mouth and eyes. Excitement makes her voice thin and reedy. “Husband? Oh,m’hijita, you got married?”
She was there. She walked me down the aisle. “I did. It was beautiful,” I tell her.
“He’s so handsome,” she says, leaning close and murmuring the words in a conspiratorial tone.
I giggle. “I know. Don’t tell him that, though.Ya es demasiado orgulloso.”
She clucks her tongue and looks down at my ring, tilting her head a few times to watch how it catches the light.
“I’m pregnant, Abuela.”
