Grant, still in uniform, sat next to me. Jason clapped his hands once, like he could reset the whole night. “Okay. Food. Now.” Mark grabbed plates. Caleb lifted warmers. Eliza gave me water as if I had just finished a race. After a moment of hovering, Sarah responded, “Sit. You sit.” So I took a seat. Still in costume, Grant sat next to me, seemingly undecided about his deservingness of a chair. I gave him a little elbow push. “Eat, Officer Trouble.” Mark made an unsuccessful attempt to cut the cake correctly.

He laughed tremblingly. “Yes, ma’am.” The stress eased as we ate. Mark made an unsuccessful attempt to cut the cake correctly. Even though Jason’s story didn’t make sense, it managed to make everyone chuckle.

“I truly apologize,” Sarah said in a whisper as she bent in my direction.”I know,” I replied. “Just don’t let ‘busy’ turn into ‘gone.’” Her eyes gleamed. “Okay.” He grinned, his shoulders drooping.

Later, Grant leaned in as the balloons began to sag.Next week is my graduation ceremony. I reserved a spot for you.””Next week,” I said again. He nodded, feeling both anxious and proud. “Will you come?” I gave him a look. My crazy one. The hardest one for me. My uniformed son is making an effort.”Yes,” I said. “I’ll be there.”

They nodded one by one. He grinned, his shoulders drooping.

I glanced at all six of them across the table. “Listen.” They fell silent.”No more vanishing,” I informed them. “Avoid birthdays. Not every Tuesday. Not when convenience is involved.

They nodded one by one. Grant put his hand over mine.”Agree,” Mark stated.Deal,” Sarah remarked.”Deal,” Eliza muttered.”Deal,” said Caleb. Jason added, quite seriously. “Deal.”

Grant put his hand over mine. “Deal,” he murmured. “And I’ll prove it.” Finally, though, I wasn’t alone for one night. I gave his fingers a squeeze.

I didn’t light the candles on the cake at home. While I waited, those had melted down. They were brand-new. And the cacophony filled the room as it did to when my children sang loudly, off-key, and ridiculously.

A residence that makes noise. A table with anything on it. Not flawless. Not in the past. Finally, though, I wasn’t alone for one night.

PART1