“Well,” she said, with a soft little laugh meant to make Holly small again.

“Isn’t that just wildly dramatic of you.” And that was when Brandon stood up.

He did not rush.

He walked the length of the room, unhurried, and took his place directly behind our daughter — close enough that she could feel him there at her back, not close enough to take the box from her hands or say her words for her.

He let it stay hers.