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“You and your grief are welcome anytime.”

Something about those words hits a place deep inside me. I don’t even completely understand why, but they calm something in my heart.

I don’t have to be better before I go.

I don’t have to be less sad.

I don’t have to leave Damiano here.

I can just go.

“I think I’ll see you Sunday.”

Lily beams. “I was hoping you’d say that. See you Sunday at six.”

Of course she was.

I watch her walk down the porch steps and toward her car, already wondering what I just got myself into.

But I’m smiling.

Because I promised Damiano I would try.

And if I’m being completely truthful, I’m really curious to finally see one of the famous Hawthorne Sunday dinners he talked about so many times.

Sunday is here, and I’m a nervous wreck. Why? I have no clue. Damiano talked about the Hawthorne dinners so much that I should feel like I know all of them already, but what if they don’t like me? What if I feel like crying? What if I need to come back home?

“Freaking out?”

I look up from the book I’ve been trying, and failing, to read on the porch to find Jude standing there.

“Hey, I am not.”

Jude cocks his head, and I burst out laughing.

“You’re scaring me with how well you know me.”

He looks down at his feet for a second before his eyes come back to mine. “Want me to pick you up?”

“Huh?”

“For dinner?”

“Oh.” I close the book over my finger. “Yes, please. I don’t think I can do the whole walking-in-alone thing.”

Jude smiles. “Six?”

I look at my phone and see it’s already four PM. Damn it. I should probably get ready.

“Okay.” I get up and leave my book on the swing.

“Later.” Jude nods and walks back toward his place.

Time to get ready, I guess.

I walk inside and head straight for the bathroom to take a shower. An hour later, I’m standing in front of my closet, wondering what the hell one wears to a Hawthorne family dinner.

At our family dinners, we always dressed comfy but stylish, especially on Sundays, so I settle on a white sundress with embroidered sunflowers around the waist and a pair of comfortable sandals. I leave my hair loose, clipping half of it back, and add some mascara and lip gloss before taking one last look at myself in the mirror.