He grabs menus and leads us through the restaurant. We round the corner into a large alcove with a long table—and suddenly the whole room erupts.
“There they are!”
“Finally!”
“We missed you guys!”
And then I’m being hugged.
Erin squeezes me so hard my back pops. She looks at me in horror, and I laugh.
“Thank you. I needed that,” I tell her.
Ava looks like she might cry seeing me. “I’m so glad you’re back. I missed you!”
“I missed you too.” I squeeze her hand. “We have so much to catch up on.”
Everett bends down and gives Chloe a huge hug.
Camden walks out wearing his chef’s apron, smelling like herbs and smoke and something caramelized. He’s on his way to hug us when Juju walks in, and his attention is snagged by her.
It makes me giggle to see how enraptured he is with her.
Goldie and Milo stand and hug us. Speaking of enraptured. Milo gazes at Goldie lovingly as she says how happy she is that we’re home.
And then the grandmas descend on us.
Grandma Nancy cups my face like she’s checking to see if I’ve changed in the week and a half I was gone. Grandma Donna kisses Chloe’s cheeks until my little girl collapses into giggles.
“We were worried sick,” Grandma Nancy says. “California feels a million miles away when you’re gone that long. Felt so helpless, being so far and unable to do anything.”
“You did a ton. You watched Bill,” Dylan reminds her. “I hope you’re ready to give him up, though. I told Dad I was stopping by on the way home tonight to pick him up.”
“Oh, are you sure you have to do that?” Grandma Donna asks. “He’s such a little dear. And he and Kevin get along so well. He loves it with us, doesn’t he, Nancy?”
“Yes, he sure does.”
“I have no doubt that he does,” Dylan says, laughing. “But I’ll bring him to visit often, I promise.”
“I should hope so,” Grandma Nancy says.
Their affection is like the softest, most enveloping blanket.
After Noah and Grayson walk in, Grayson and Chloe have the cutest reunion, while Noah comes and hugs us. I snap a picture of Grayson telling Chloe something in great detail and her putting her hand over her mouth as she gasps. It’s so adorable, I’m going to frame it.
Dylan slides his hand around my waist just as Camden calls from the head of the table, “All right, all right! Sit down and eat. It’s a celebration.”
Everyone laughs and starts settling into their seats.
“What are we celebrating?” I ask.
“Your new job at Windhaven!” Everett calls from across the table.
I look around and see everyone’s sweet smiles. “Really?” I ask, my grin going wobbly.
I take my place next to Dylan, across from Erin and Ava. Chloe sits tucked between Grandma Nancy on her left and Grandma Donna on her right like she’s the guest of honor.
“Look at her,” Grandma Donna says, smoothing Chloe’s hair. “Has she gotten taller? She’s taller, isn’t she?”
