Sebastian stared at Xavier with an expression caught between disbelief and exasperation.
"You couldn't just let me have the moment."
"What can I say?" Xavier grinned. "You inspired me."
Sebastian shook his head, but he was fighting a smile. He crossed to Xavier and clapped him on the shoulder. "Congratulations, man."
"Thanks."
Then Sebastian turned to me, and his expression softened. "Welcome to the family. Officially."
Before I could respond, Eleanor swept in, pulling both Xavier and me into a surprisingly strong embrace.
"I told you that you had enough time," she said to Xavier. Then she turned to me, her eyes sparkling. "And thank you, my dear, for taking him off my hands. There's a no-return policy, I'm afraid. You're stuck with him now."
She kissed my cheek and swept away, already calling for more champagne.
"MOMMY!"
Zoe came barreling through the crowd, Evie trailing behind her. She launched herself at my legs, and I scooped her up, holding her tight.
"You're getting married!" Zoe's face was flushed with excitement. "Evie told me what it means! Xavier's going to be my daddy now!"
I looked at Xavier over Zoe's head. His eyes were bright. Wet, maybe.
"Yeah, munchkin." His voice was rough. "If that's okay with you."
"It's the best!" Zoe flung her arms around his neck, and he took her from me, holding her close. "I always wanted a daddy. And now I get the best one."
I watched them, my daughter in the arms of the man I was going to marry, and something cracked open in my chest.
For a second, I braced for pain. That was instinct. That was years of learning that good things came with a price.
But this didn't hurt.
This was the other kind of cracking. The kind that lets the light in
Xavier met my eyes over Zoe's shoulder. He mouthed three words.
“I love you.”
I mouthed them back.
Then I stepped into his arms, letting him hold both of us, and for the first time in my life, I let myself believe.
That this was real.
That it would last.
That I was allowed to have this.
That Kim Young, the girl who aged out of foster care with nothing but a garbage bag of clothes and a chip on her shoulder, was allowed to have a family. A real one. One that would stay.
I kissed my fiancé.
I couldn't be happier.
And for once, I didn't wait for the other shoe to drop.
