“It is,” Auntie Rhonda added, pointing lightly in my direction. “For as long as I’ve known you, I know you don’t go this length on something unless you’re prepared to stand on it.”
Kendra smiled, encouraged. “I like it,” she said. “It sounds intentional. Like you’re not just collecting things, you’re preserving them. Especially the Black creators and characters that didn’t get centered the way they should’ve.”
“That’s the idea,” I said.
Nova reached for her glass, taking a small sip before setting it down with care. “It’s a good name,” she said. “I just didn’t realize we were that far along.”
She delivered it clean, no strain in her voice, and it still settled heavier than anything else at the table. Simone’s gaze flicked toward her, quick and knowing.
Auntie Rhonda stepped in before the moment had room to stretch.
“Speaking of being on time,” she said, lifting her glass slightly, “this is exactly the kind of morning Celeste would’ve had us up for. It’s beautiful and brisk. Just… meant to be.”
A small pause moved through the table.
Kendra glanced between them. “Celeste?” she asked gently.
Nova didn’t answer right away.
Auntie Rhonda did.
“My best friend,” she said, her voice steady. “Her mother. It would’ve been her birthday today. I’ll never forget how she swore up and down that she would clamp her legs shut if it meant giving Nova her own birthday, but the way she ended dancing the night away I seriously thought Celeste and Nova were going to share the same birthdays.”
Kendra’s expression softened immediately. “Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“You didn’t need to,” Rhonda said, not unkindly. “You’re here now.”
She gave a small nod, more to herself than anyone else.
“We keep this one close,” she said. “But we made room.”
Nova’s mouth curved slightly, something quieter sitting underneath it.
“She would’ve had us out the door before the sun thought about coming up,” she added, her voice even. “Talking about how all the good finds go early.”
“And she would’ve been right,” Rhonda said. “As usual. But don’t you dare tell her I said that if she comes to you in a dream.”
Jerome lifted his fork, glancing toward the desserts. “So we honoring Celeste properly, or are we just speaking respectfully and calling it a day?”
“We are not ‘calling it a day,’” Simone said.
She didn’t raise her voice, but her gaze slid to me, steady and direct.
“Days like this, you just make sure you’re present for the people who feel it the most,” she added.
It wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. Marcus exhaled quietly, like he’d felt it land and decided not to get involved.
Auntie Rhonda stepped in before it could stretch, nodding toward the end of the table. “Put her birthday candle on one of those,” she said. “We’ll do it right.”
Marcus was already halfway up. “I’ve got it.”
The table shifted again, not heavy, just intentional. Nova watched for a second, then pushed her chair back.
“I’m going to run to the bathroom,” she said, her tone steady as she reached for her bag.
“Take your time,” Simone said, quieter now.
Nova nodded once and moved away from the table without drawing attention to it. I watched her anyway. She made it halfway across the room before her hand lifted briefly to her face, quick enough that most people wouldn’t have caught it. I did. The tear was gone as fast as it showed. I pushed my chair back before I could think better of it.
