“Where?” Chloe chirps, swinging her legs.
“We’re going on an adventure,” Dahlia says, voice bright but trembling.
I kneel beside Chloe’s chair and grin at her. “You get to meet my family today.”
She claps and tilts her head from side to side. “Yay!”
Dahlia and I share a look over her head—hers tight with fear, mine trying so hard to be calm.
“It’s going to be okay,” I tell Dahlia.
She swallows. “I wish I could believe that.”
We get out the door in fifteen minutes. Chloe’s singing as she cradles her stuffed unicorn. I’m all for it. We need all the emotional support we can get. Bill is in Dahlia’s lap, and I scratch his head before leaving my hand on Dahlia’s thigh.
By the time we reach the house, my family is already gathering in the kitchen—sleepy-eyed, coffee mugs in hand. The second we walk in, every face snaps toward us. Their eyes widen in surprise when they see my arm around Dahlia’s shoulder, and Chloe on my hip.
Dahlia’s still holding Bill. Kevin trots over and twirls at our feet, which makes Chloe giggle. Dahlia leans down and lets the dogs sniff each other, and when Bill wiggles, she sets him down, and they run off together.
Dad’s brows pull together, but he can’t help but smile at Dahlia and Chloe. “Why, hello. Son—what’s going on?”
Ava, Noah, and Grayson walk in then, and when Ava sees Dahlia, she gasps and moves to stand near her. Milo is the last to enter, and when he sees Dahlia, he comes to a standstill. He takes in the scene, and understanding crosses his face. He grins at the three of us and winks at Dahlia, who laughs softly.
“Who’s that?” Grayson asks, coming over to hug my legs.
“This is the girl I’ve been sneaking off to see for months,” I say, my voice cracking. “And her daughter.”
The reaction is instant.
Goldie gasps and slaps her hand over her mouth, her eyes round. Ava squeals and hugs Dahlia. Milo comes over and hugs Dahlia and Chloe. Juju jumps up and down. Grandma Donna and Grandma Nancy clasp their hands together in delight.
“I’m just glad she met you when your hair had come back in,” Grandma Nancy says.
“Isn’t that the truth,” Grandma Donna says.
Noah blurts out, “FINALLY.”
Tully laughs into his coffee.
“I’m Grayson,” my nephew yells up at Chloe, his grin wide.
She waves at him, smiling back.
Camden shakes his head, laughing. “Everyone owes me twenty bucks,” he says, like they have some secret bet going.
Dad comes over and holds his hand out. Dahlia takes it and shakes it, flushing bright pink.
“Welcome,” he says. “I’m Everett, Dylan’s dad.”
Then I take a breath. “This is Dahlia Granger.”
Silence.
A thick, oh-shit silence.
Every smile vanishes. Goldie’s jaw literally drops. Tully says “Oh damn” under his breath.
Dad just stares at us, his expression unreadable.
