“You can let go of my arm now, Mum,” Dave said quietly. “We’re here.”
Cloe realised she had been holding it the entire walk across the room, her fingers wrapped around his small sleeve like an anchor, and she laughed softly and let go and looked up.
Mac was three steps away.
The room had gone quiet in the specific way rooms went quiet when something true was about to happen in them. Eleven faces turned toward her. Ada with both hands pressed to her mouth. Ruth, composed but blinking fast. Jonah and Lily standing close together near the window, Jonah’s hand briefly finding Lily’s shoulder. Sophia, vibrating with the particular stillness of a child trying very hard not to fidget at the most important moment of a plan she had built.
And Mac.
Mac in his dark suit, standing where she had p
