There were murmurs of agreement and a ripple of applause, but it was Sophie’s voice that resonated the most. “You are my family,” she declared, her small voice filled with conviction.

As the evening wore on, I found a quiet moment with Michael. “Are you okay?” I asked, my hand finding his.

He nodded, though his eyes betrayed a hint of sadness. “I am. I just wish…” His sentence trailed off, and I knew he was thinking of Evelyn, of the relationship that might never be.