Esme placed a hand on his cheek. “Thanks for hanging in there with me. And guess what? Grady’s going to send you to the STEM program this summer.”
He whipped around to look at me. “Grady, you don’t have to. It’s very generous, but not needed. All I’ve wanted was for my mom to be happy.”
“You’re going to USC this summer,” I said firmly. “No discussion required. Eight kids selected out of 400, and you were one of them. Think about how phenomenal that is. I’m proud of you.”
Robbie dropped his chin, staring at the floor of the patio for a moment before looking up at me. He blinked rapidly, his voice steady but barely. “Some people look at you and see what’s missing. Others look at you and see what’s there. Maybe that’s how you know who to love with your whole heart.”
“I see you, bud. And it’s pretty magnificent,” I said.
“I see you too, Grady. And ditto,” Robbie said.
The rest of the gang were making their way out to us. Soon, our friends had surrounded us, giving hugs and congratulations.
“About time,” Seraphina said.
“No kidding,” Delphine said.
Alex popped open a bottle of champagne and poured glasses for the adults. Gillian poured cider for herself and the kids.
Vance raised his glass first. “To Grady and Esme. Who took the scenic route, but got there in the end.”
“Theveryscenic route,” Hunter said.
“The longest scenic route in the history of scenic routes,” Seraphina added.
Everyone laughed. Esme leaned into me, the crushed sunflower still in my hand, her petals brushing against the shoulders of my suit. I put my arm around her and pulled her close.
The party went on around us after that. The kids disappeared back into the haunted hallway, with Madison leading the charge in her Trevor costume, barking orders that she’d apparently decided were part of the character. Robbie went inside with therest of the kids, his periodic table tie slightly askew from the hug, though he didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe he didn’t mind.
The adults drifted back inside, refilling drinks, finding the dance floor, settling into the easy warmth of people who’d chosen each other as family. At one point I looked through the French doors and saw Hunter leaning against the bar, watching Seraphina dance. He had an expression on his face that made me think it was impossible for him to look anywhere but at her. I knew the feeling well. I made a mental note to ask him why he didn’t just ask her out already. As if I could give advice in that area.
Gillian caught my eye through the window and pressed her hand to her heart. I nodded. She nodded back. That was enough.
Esme and I stayed on the deck. The music was muffled through the glass, the ocean steady beyond the railing, the moon painting silver across the water. She leaned against me, her head on my shoulder, the sunflower petals slightly bent and worse for wear.
“Grady?”
“Yeah?”
“Take me home.”
I kissed her forehead. “What about the kids?”
“Gillian already offered to keep them tonight. She whispered it to me when you weren’t looking.”
“How kind of her.”
“The kindest, smartest women I know are all in that house. I’m lucky to have them.”
“You are. Thank you for bringing them into my life,” I said.
I looked out at the ocean one last time. Then back at Esme, her sunflower hat framing her pretty face. I’d not thought this moment would be possible but, now that it was here, I knew it was exactly how our story should end. Or begin, depending on how one looked at it.
“Let’s go home,” I said.
She took my hand. We walked back through the party, saying our goodnights, collecting hugs and knowing smiles. Madison waved from inside her Trevor costume, deep in a game of Twister with Grace. Robbie, standing by the snack table, watched us leave.
“Goodnight, Mother. Goodnight, Grady.” He paused. “The statistical probability of long-term relationship success increases significantly when both parties have been friends first.”
