Chapter 21 — Something For You

Samantha stepped forward, into the space beside her mother, perfectly composed.

“Actually, Mom,” she said, and her voice was gentle, almost kind, “before you finish your speech, there’s something here for you.”

Laura faltered, the momentum of her performance interrupted.

Across the room, Naomi and Brooklyn rose and lifted the plain white box, and carried it forward together, and set it down on the head table directly in front of their mother, the satin ribbon catching the light.

Laura looked at it, and blinked, and forced her smile back into place.