Maddie’s bottom lip wobbles for half a second before she launches forward and wraps her arms around Natalie’s neck.
Then she reaches for me with one hand.
Group hug.
Unbalanced. Too tight.
Perfect.
“Okay,” Maddie declares into Natalie’s shoulder. “Then I want cupcakes.”
“For what?” I ask.
“For being engaged.”
“We’re not technically—” Natalie starts.
Maddie gasps. “Do you get a ring? Is there kissing? Is it gross?”
Natalie laughs. I feel it through the air like static.
“It’s not gross,” she says.
Maddie narrows her eyes. “Sometimes it’s gross.”
“Not this time,” I say.
Natalie and I exchange a quick look. A small, shared smile.
She leans back, assessing us both.
“Does Uncle Mason know?”
Natalie and I exchange a look.
“Nope. We told you first. Tomorrow, we'll tell Mason,” Natalie says.
Maddie grins like she just got front-row tickets to a meltdown.
“Can I be there?”
“No, you'll be in school, but you'll see him soon,” I say immediately.
Maddie beams.
“I’m going to draw the wedding,” she announces, scrambling off the couch.
She disappears down the hall.
The house goes quiet again.
Different quiet now.
Natalie stands slowly.
I watch her the way Maddie does.
She moves through the room like she belongs here.
