Harper considered that, then slipped her hand into mine.

“Do you know what the best part was?” she asked.

“What?”

“That we still came home together.”

I held her hand across the table.

All those months ago, I had been afraid the ring would open a door through which someone could take her away.

Instead it had shown us that a family could grow without our little home becoming any less ours.

I would not pretend every choice along the way had been easy.