“I absolutely do.”
“What if work calls?”
“It can leave a message.”
“What if it’s very important?”
“You’re very important.”
Maggie threw herself into Claire’s arms.
Claire held her tightly.
Over Maggie’s shoulder, she saw Ethan standing near the door.
His eyes were shiny too.
The tea was held on a Thursday afternoon.
Claire cleared the entire second half of her schedule.
She arrived early.
Maggie was wearing a yellow dress and two braids Claire had done that morning.
Eight out of ten, according to Maggie.
Nine if nobody looked closely at the left side.
The room was full of small tables, paper flowers, cookies, and adults trying to sit comfortably in chairs designed for children.
Claire felt more nervous walking into that room than she had felt at her first major industry conference.
Maggie spotted her.
Her face transformed.
“You came!”
Claire knelt.
“I said I would.”
One of the staff members smiled at them.
“You must be Maggie’s special guest.”
Maggie grabbed Claire’s hand.
“She’s Claire.”
The staff member looked at Maggie.
“And who is Claire?”
Maggie answered without hesitation.
“My person.”
Claire had to look away for a second.
They drank pretend tea.
They ate cookies.
They made paper flowers.
Maggie drew a picture of herself standing between Ethan and Claire.
All three figures had enormous circular heads.
Claire’s figure had yellow hair even though Claire’s hair was brown.
“I made it fancy,” Maggie explained.
“Obviously.”
At the bottom, Maggie wrote three shaky words.
MY HOME PEOPLE.
Claire stared at them.
Home people.
Not mother.
Not father.
Not family by blood.
Home people.
