Me: “I’m not letting this go.”

Michael: “Neither am I.”

Two weeks later, we hosted Michael’s birthday picnic. The invitations read: “Everyone who sees Sophie as part of this family is welcome.”

An hour before the party, Evelyn texted…

Evelyn texted, “I assume this invitation doesn’t include me.”

I looked at Michael, the weight of his mother’s words pressing down on us both. He sighed, setting his phone aside, and wrapped his arms around Sophie, who was buzzing with excitement as she decorated the garden with balloons and streamers.

“Let’s enjoy today,” he said softly, planting a kiss on her head. “It’s our day.”