“Noah, Ethan, Sophia, Olivia,” she continued, carefully giving each child their own moment, “I know I cannot ask you to call me Grandma simply because I want it.

I hope someday you’ll feel comfortable doing that.”

Sophia looked at me before answering.

“Can we decide later?”

“Of course.”

Vanessa Cole, Daniel’s fiancée, stood near the window with the velvet ring box closed in her palm.

Her eyes were red, though she held herself together better than anyone had a right to expect.

She had been prepared for a proposal, perhaps an announcement, and the sort of family photographs people keep on mantels.