Her three-year-old daughter, Sophie, looked up at her with worried gray eyes.
“Mommy, why are you making that face?”
Camille folded the invitation and set it on the counter.
“I was remembering something I should have forgotten a long time ago.”
Across the kitchen, Sophie’s brothers, Noah and Miles, were trying to stack cereal boxes into a tower. Their laughter echoed through the bright room, lighthearted and carefree.
Camille looked at all three of her children and felt the old ache inside her finally disappear.
Her phone began to ring.
Gavin’s name appeared on the screen.
She thought about letting it go unanswered, but picked up instead.
“Hello, Gavin.”
His voice carried the same calm confidence.
“So you received the invitation.”
“I did.”
“You should come. It might help you accept that life moved forward.”
Camille nearly smiled.
Gavin had not called because he wanted her there. He had called to make sure she understood exactly why she had been invited.
