And I know what I want to do.
It’s so immediate that I don’t even question it.
“Set up another call with him,” I say to Mabel. “I want to see his face when he finds out I know.”
Mabel nods. “Can do.”
“Don’t make him suspicious.”
That gets a smile out of Mabel. “Oh, honey, this isnotmy first rodeo.”
Heath squats beside me and squeezes my knee. “Do you have any idea how strong you are?”
“I’m starting to catch on.”
“No small portion of the population would prefer to avoid this kind of conflict, especially with family,” Thor says. “What you’re doing is incredibly brave.”
“Then maybe no small portion of the population needs the kind of support system Mabel’s built here,” I reply.
“We’ll all be there if you need us,” Mabel says.
Two months ago, I didn’t know any of these people.
But today—today, they’re my whole world.
All of them.
And that’s what has my eyelids prickling with tears. “Mabel, I owed you a better compliment.”
She shakes her head. “No, you didn’t.”
“Yes, I did. You are the best of the best of people, and you deserve all of the good things.”
Mabel blinks quickly. “So are you, Cricket. So are you.”
“You’re an unsung hero of the internet age.”
“Stop.”
“You are, hon,” Samantha says.
“When your story is told in history books, little girls will dress in all black and cat-eye glasses,” Olivia says.
“Awards will be named after you,” Ginny says.
“Stars and constellations too,” Dori says.
Mabel’s eyes go shiny. “Stop,” she says again.
Pip grabs her in a hug. “You’re the best family I’ve ever had. Forever and always.”
None of us are dry-eyed.
How could we be?
And this is what matters.
Not going viral.
