But I could make sure that, from now on, the hand holding the pen was hers.

Chapter 26 — My Family Is Already Complete

A full year after the wedding that never was, Hannah took part in a school presentation about family heritage and traditions.

On her display board she pinned three photographs: one of her mother, Rebecca, laughing on a beach; one of me in my dress uniform; and a recent one of herself standing between her Aunt Patricia and me at a summer picnic, all three of us squinting and grinning in the sun.

During the questions afterward, a boy in her class raised his hand and asked whether she ever wished she had a more traditional family, with a mom and a dad at home.