Claire’s eyes filled.
“You never tried to replace anybody.”
He glanced at Maggie.
“You just made more room.”
Claire squeezed his hands.
Ethan continued.
“You made room for Maggie to love you without choosing between people.”
His voice shook.
“You made room for me to be more than tired.”
Claire blinked rapidly.
“And somehow you made room for yourself too.”
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
Ethan smiled.
“I love the life we’ve built.”
Maggie could no longer contain herself.
“Ask her!”
Ethan laughed.
He reached into his pocket.
Claire covered her mouth.
“Claire Bennett, will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
She answered before he finished smiling.
“Yes.”
Maggie screamed.
Then immediately covered her mouth.
“Sorry. Park voice.”
Claire laughed so hard she cried.
Ethan slipped the ring onto her finger.
Maggie reached into the paper bag.
“I made something.”
She pulled out a construction-paper card.
On the front were three stick figures.
Underneath, in large uneven letters, she had written:
FOREVER HOME PEOPLE.
Claire sat down hard on the bench.
That card broke her more completely than the ring.
Maggie climbed beside her.
“Are you crying because you’re happy?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Maggie patted Claire’s arm.
“Daddy cried in the kitchen.”
“I did not.”
“You did.”
“One tear.”
“Two.”
Claire looked at Ethan.
“I’m marrying a very emotional man.”
“Apparently.”
They married the following spring.
The ceremony was small.
