Home Together

Elaine had spent most of the drive smiling.

After work, she had gone home to pack a suitcase for what might be an extended stay at Jessica's house. The thought had made her feel almost giddy. She had spent so long coming home to an empty house, eating dinner alone and watching television with no one to argue over the remote. Now she was packing for a sleepover that wasn't really a sleepover at all. It was the beginning of a shared home, a new life with Roy and the women he loved.

The distinction should have made the whole thing feel more serious. Instead, Elaine had found herself humming as she folded her clothes.

Picking up Zara on the way over had only improved her mood.

Zara had come out of her apartment carrying a suitcase in one hand and a box tucked carefully under the other arm. Her short black hair was neatly styled, and her oversized glasses had been cleaned to a shine. The black pencil skirt she wore hugged her curvy hips, while her pink blouse gave her an unexpectedly polished look. Pantyhose completed the outfit, making her look rather more like a young office professional than the fantasy-loving gamer who could talk for forty minutes about the relative merits of different miniature paints.

The box, Elaine soon discovered, contained some of those miniatures.

"Don't look at me like that," Zara said as she settled into the passenger seat. "I don't know how long it'll take to unpack, and I refuse to be caught without the essentials."

"Clothes, toothbrush, miniature soldiers," Elaine said. "That sounds about right."

"Thank you. Finally, someone who understands the hierarchy of needs."

Elaine laughed and pulled away from the curb. "Are you nervous?"

"About moving in with everyone? No. About moving in with everyone and having to decide where to put my stuff? A little. About whether I'll accidentally knock over a miniature while trying to find my socks? That's the real nightmare."

"Well, I'm sure Jessica will be very understanding."

"Jessica is a lawyer. She'll probably make me sign an agreement accepting financial responsibility for any damage I cause to the household's strategic assets."

"Then I suppose you'd better keep your strategic assets somewhere safe."

"I have a plan. It involves a dedicated shelf, a protective barrier, and absolutely no one touching anything without my supervision."

"That sounds very reasonable."

"Right? I'm an adult. I can be responsible."

Zara said it with such earnest pride that Elaine had to suppress another laugh. There was something endearing about the way Zara could dress up, make an effort, and still be entirely herself. The pink blouse and fitted skirt might have made her look sophisticated, but the excitement in her voice belonged to the same woman who could spend an entire date explaining a role-playing game's complicated character progression system.

Elaine liked that about her. There was no pretending with Zara, no need to guess what she was thinking. Whatever passed through her mind usually came straight out of her mouth, often accompanied by an enthusiastic hand gesture.

The thought of sharing a home with her made Elaine smile again.

When they arrived at Jessica's house, Elaine's stomach fluttered with anticipation. She had already slept there one night, but arriving with a suitcase of things that she knew would be staying there permanently made everything feel different. This wasn't a visit. They were beginning to make a home together.

Jessica opened the front door before they had even reached the step.

She looked beautiful, as she always did, but there was something especially welcoming about her appearance tonight. Her brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, leaving her face unobstructed, and her tight jeans showed off her figure without making her look as though she'd spent hours planning the outfit. A loose peasant blouse softened the effect, its flowing fabric giving her an easy, relaxed elegance. Jessica could look polished without appearing stiff, and even at home she carried herself with the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to taking charge of a room.

"You're here!" she exclaimed, stepping aside to let them in. "Come on. Bring everything inside before Zara decides the front step is a suitable place to organize her collections."

"I would never," Zara protested, hauling her suitcase over the threshold. "Not without a proper table."

Jessica laughed and leaned in to kiss Elaine's cheek. "I'm glad you made it. How was the drive?"

"Lovely. Zara entertained me with a detailed explanation of her packing priorities."

"She left out the emergency dice."

"They're in my handbag," Zara said. "Obviously."

"Of course they are."

The familiar warmth of Jessica's greeting eased the last of Elaine's nervousness. Jessica had a gift for making people feel wanted, and tonight that gift seemed especially important. There were several women about to share a house, each with her own habits, history, and hopes for the future. Even when everyone got along, living together would involve compromises. But if anyone could make the arrangement work, Elaine suspected it was Jessica.

Ava was in the hallway, leaning against the wall with her phone in one hand. Her brown hair was divided into two neat braids that hung over the front of her purple hoodie. Shorts left her long, athletic legs bare, and the casual outfit made her look every bit the young woman who was perfectly happy to spend an evening at home without dressing up for anyone.

"Hey, Elaine," Ava said, lifting her gaze from her phone. "Hey, Zara."

"Hello, sweetheart." Elaine gave her a quick hug. "How are you doing?"

"Good. Mom's been running around making sure everything's ready, so I've been trying to stay out of the way."

"An excellent survival strategy," Zara said solemnly.

Jessica gave her daughter a fond look. "I have not been running around."

"You reorganized the kitchen drawers."

"That was necessary."

"You labelled the pantry shelves."

"That was also necessary."

"You made a list of where everyone should put their shoes."

"That was a matter of practical household management."

Zara turned to Elaine. "I think I'm going to like living here."

"You're all conspiring against me," Jessica declared, though her smile made it clear she wasn't remotely offended.

A soft laugh came from the living room. Monique was sitting near the edge of the sofa, her hands resting together in her lap. She had arrived only a few minutes earlier, Jessica explained, and had been given a little time to settle in while they waited for the others.

Elaine's first impression was that Monique had made a considerable effort to look her best. Her black long-sleeved top fitted closely to her figure, and the tight leopard-print skirt emphasized her curves. Her hair had been swept into an elegant updo, revealing her ears and the large gold hoops that framed her face. The earrings caught the light whenever she turned her head. Her makeup was carefully applied, and every detail of her appearance seemed deliberate. Of all the women gathered in Jessica's house, Monique was unquestionably the most dressed up.

Elaine couldn't blame her. Joining an established group of girlfriends was bound to be intimidating, especially when one of them was your own daughter. Monique probably wanted to make a good impression on all of them.

And, Elaine suspected, on Roy when he finally arrived.

The thought brought a little smile to her face. Roy had a way of making women want to please him, even when they had no particular reason to expect anything from him. He never demanded attention, never tried to impress people with grand gestures or clever speeches. He simply listened, cared, and made room for other people's feelings. Somehow, that could be even more disarming than confidence or charm.

Monique rose as Elaine approached.

"Hi, Monique." Elaine opened her arms, giving her a moment to decide whether a hug would be welcome. "I'm so glad to meet you."

"You must be Elaine." Monique accepted it the hug, initially a little stiffly. Then her shoulders relaxed as she returned the embrace. "You're just as beautiful as Michelle had told me."

"Oh, stop," Elaine said with a smile. "I'm glad you came."

"Thank you for making me feel welcome." Monique glanced around the room, her expression a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty. "I know I'm the new person here. I don't want to intrude."

"You're not intruding," Elaine assured her. "You're part of the family now, if that's what you want to be."

The words seemed to touch Monique. She looked down briefly, gathering herself before meeting Elaine's eyes again.

"It is," she said quietly. "Very much."

Zara stepped forward with a bright smile. "Welcome to the group. I should warn you that we're still working out some of the household logistics, but there are no secret initiation rituals."

"That's a relief," Monique replied.

"Unless Jessica has been keeping them from me."

"I have not," Jessica said.

"Then we're safe. The only requirements are that you love Roy, respect everyone else, and accept that I may occasionally need a whole table for a miniature-based activity."

"That sounds manageable," Monique said, and this time her smile looked a little more comfortable.

Elaine watched the exchange with quiet satisfaction. Monique was still reserved, still finding her place, but no one was making her work for the welcome. They weren't demanding that she explain herself or prove that she deserved to be there. They were simply making room for her. It was a small thing, perhaps, but Elaine knew how much small things mattered.

"I still can't get over it," Elaine admitted, glancing around the room. "All of us under one roof. I finally get some peace and quiet after years of trying to get my children to agree on what to watch on television, and now we're voluntarily moving into a house together."

"That is a major achievement," Zara said. "We should probably get a plaque."

"Please don't give her ideas," Jessica said. "I have enough things to organize already."

"Too late. I'm thinking something tasteful. Maybe a commemorative sign for the living room."

"You're not putting a sign in my living room."

"Our living room," Zara corrected, then covered her mouth as though she had only just realized what she'd said.

For a moment, the room went quiet. Then Jessica's expression softened.

"Our living room," she agreed.

The simple correction made Elaine's heart swell. There was something almost astonishing about hearing those words spoken aloud. For so long, she'd thought of a home as a place built around a couple and their children, a place shaped by routines and memories that accumulated over decades. Her own house had been full of that kind of life. Mark had been there, and then Claire and Evan had grown up within its walls. The rooms held years of laughter, arguments, celebrations, ordinary dinners, and quiet evenings when nothing much happened at all.

She would always treasure those memories.

Mark had been a good husband. Losing him had left a hole in her life that no one could simply fill, and she would never pretend otherwise. There were still moments when a familiar song or the sight of something he had liked could bring him sharply to mind. Even after all these years, she could remember the sound of his laughter and the way he used to look at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention.

Elaine didn't want to erase any of that. She didn't have to stop loving Mark to love Roy.

The difference was that, for a long time, she had thought her life was largely finished in the ways that mattered. Her children were grown. Her career was established. She had friends and hobbies, and she had learned how to live alone. It was a good life, but it was a quieter one than she'd once imagined.

Then Roy had come along.

Being with him had made her feel wanted in a way she hadn't realized she still needed. He made her laugh. He listened when she spoke, even when she rambled about a student or a problem at school that had been bothering her. He noticed when she was tired and when something was weighing on her mind. He made her feel beautiful, not because he praised her appearance every chance he got, but because his affection seemed to reach beyond the surface.

And Elaine was head over heels for him.

She could have stayed in her old house. She could have continued living among the memories of her marriage, keeping everything as it had been because changing it might feel like letting go. But the truth was that she wanted to wake up beside Roy. She wanted to make him breakfast, sit with him in the evenings, and hear about his day. She wanted the little things that couples often took for granted, the small gestures of affection that made a life together feel like a life rather than a series of visits.

If that meant leaving her house behind, she could do it. She'd carry the memories with her. The important thing was what she chose to do with the years still ahead.

"I think the best part," Elaine said, returning to the conversation, "is that we're all here because we want to be. Nobody has to pretend this is something it isn't."

"Agreed," Jessica said. Her tone was warm, but her eyes had the sharp focus Elaine recognized from conversations when Jessica was considering a difficult question. "Which brings me to something I'd like us to discuss before Roy arrives."

Zara straightened. "That sounds ominous."

"It's not ominous. I promise."

"That's what people say before announcing a surprise audit."

Jessica gave her a patient look. "Agnes."

Elaine blinked. "Agnes?"

"Yes. Agnes."

The name was familiar, a woman described to Elaine by Zara and Michelle as a tall, beautiful blonde woman who lived down the hall from Roy. Elaine had never seen her, but could guess what kind of woman she was. Agnes was the sort who seemed to draw attention without having to ask for it. She was striking, with a figure that looked carefully maintained, and she usually carried herself with the distant confidence of someone who knew precisely how she appeared to other people.

Zara, on the other hand, reacted as though Jessica had announced a surprise boss battle.

"Agnes? The Agnes? The incredibly gorgeous one who looks like she could walk into a room and convince everyone to hand over their wallets just by smiling?"

"That may be a slight exaggeration," Jessica said.

"May be?"

"Agnes is very beautiful," Jessica conceded. "And she knows it."

"I met her in the hallway," Zara continued. "She's definitely one of the Sexy Girls. Not that I'm saying that as a criticism. I just mean she has that whole polished, effortlessly attractive thing going on. The kind of woman who can wear a plain shirt and jeans and somehow look like she's on the cover of a magazine."

Monique looked between them, trying to follow. "I'm sorry. What does that have to do with Roy?"

"That's what we're getting to," Jessica replied. She took a seat and gestured for the others to join her. "Agnes, like all of us, has fallen for him."

Elaine's eyebrows rose. "Roy?"

"Roy," Jessica said, nodding. "She lives in his building. She's seen him around for a while, and her feelings have developed gradually. She didn't approach him because she knew he was involved with us. She didn't try to interfere, and she didn't try to manoeuvre herself into his life behind our backs."

"That sounds like a good start," Elaine said.

"It is. But there's more to it than that."

Jessica explained that Agnes worked as the receptionist at her law office. She was reliable, punctual, and competent. She handled her responsibilities well and rarely gave Jessica a reason to complain. On the surface, there was nothing wrong with her work.

The difficulty was that Agnes had always seemed a little detached from everything around her. She did her job, but she rarely seemed genuinely engaged with the people she dealt with. Jessica had sometimes wondered whether Agnes was simply bored, or whether she had become so accustomed to being admired that she had forgotten how to connect with people.

"That began to change once she realized how she felt about Roy," Jessica said. "I don't mean she suddenly became a different person overnight. But she seemed more present. More grounded. She started paying attention to the people around her in a way I hadn't really seen before."

"Because she fell in love?" Elaine asked.

"Possibly. Or because she finally had a reason to think seriously about the sort of person she wanted to be." Jessica leaned forward, resting her forearms on her knees. Her expression was thoughtful rather than defensive, as though she had spent a great deal of time considering the matter before bringing it to them. "Agnes admitted that she's been horrible in the past. She knows she's made assumptions about people based on their appearance, their background, and whether they fit the sort of life she thought she wanted. She acknowledged that her attitude toward Roy was particularly unfair. She used to dismiss him because he wasn't the kind of man she thought she should want."

Elaine felt a small frown form. She didn't know the full extent of Agnes's behaviour, but the idea of someone judging Roy that way bothered her. Roy could be self-conscious about his weight and his thinning hair, even if he rarely spoke about it directly. He deserved to be appreciated for the man he was, not treated as though his appearance made him less worthy of love.

Besides, Roy's body wasn't a detriment toward how he looked. If Elaine was honest with herself, she found him far sexier than taller, fitter, and younger men. Roy was, in fact, a dreamboat.

"She said all that to you?" Monique asked.

"She did. And she wasn't looking for me to tell her she was a good person after all. She wasn't making excuses. She understood that recognizing you've behaved badly doesn't erase the harm you've done, and that wanting to change is only the first step." Jessica paused, choosing her next words carefully. "I believed her. I know Agnes well enough to recognize when she's putting on a performance, and this wasn't one. She was earnest. A little uncomfortable, certainly, but honest about what she'd done and what she wanted to do differently."

Zara adjusted her oversized glasses. "So she's having a character-development arc."

"That is one way to put it."

"An actual redemption storyline. That's exciting. I mean, I'm not saying she gets to skip the consequences just because she's entered her emotionally vulnerable phase, but it's a promising narrative development."

"Zara," Elaine said, smiling despite herself.

"What? It's a good thing when people improve."

"It is," Jessica agreed. "And that is why I wanted to talk to all of you. I think Agnes deserves the chance to pursue Roy, provided Roy wants the same thing. I'm not suggesting that he owes her anything. And I'm definitely not suggesting that any of us should be pushed aside. But I don't think we should dismiss her simply because she wasn't someone we expected to join us."

Monique's fingers tightened together in her lap. "I understand wanting a chance to be with someone you love. But how do we know that's what she really wants? How do we know she isn't just attracted to the idea of Roy?"

"That's a fair question," Jessica said. "And it's one Roy will have to answer for himself, by getting to know her. We don't have to decide whether Agnes is right for him. We only have to decide whether we're willing to let him make that choice."

Elaine considered the idea. It would have been easy to react defensively. Roy already had several girlfriends, and they were trying to build a life together. Adding another person meant more feelings to consider, more time to divide, more opportunities for someone to feel overlooked. No one could reasonably expect a relationship like theirs to be effortless.

Yet Elaine knew what it felt like to love Roy. She knew the way her heart seemed to brighten when she heard his voice, how she looked forward to seeing him even when they'd only been apart for a few hours, and how much she wanted to give him the affection she had to offer. If Agnes felt even a fraction of that, Elaine could understand why the possibility mattered to her.

Jessica seemed to recognize the thought crossing Elaine's face.

"Think about your feelings for Roy," she said gently. "Think about how much you love him. Now imagine never being able to express that feeling to him, never being allowed to be with him. To me, that sounds like hell."

The words landed more heavily than Elaine expected. She imagined having to return to her old routine, knowing that Roy was out there but never being able to hold him, kiss him, or tell him how much he meant to her. She imagined watching other people share the kind of happiness she had found with him, while being told that her own feelings were inappropriate or unworthy. The thought made something ache inside her.

"I wouldn't wish that on anyone," Elaine admitted.

"Neither would I," Jessica said. "But that doesn't mean Agnes is automatically entitled to a relationship. Roy gets to decide whether he's interested, and she has to respect that decision. We all do. What I'm asking is whether we can give her the same basic consideration we'd want someone to give us."

Zara nodded slowly. "I can do that. I mean, I don't know her very well, and I'm not going to pretend that being pretty makes someone a good person. But if she's actually trying to be better, then I'd rather find out who she is now than keep judging her for who she used to be."

"That's a very generous way of looking at it," Elaine said.

"It's also a practical way of looking at it. If she's going to be around, I'd rather have a chance to get to know her than spend the rest of my life worrying that she's secretly plotting to steal Roy away." Zara paused. "Although, to be fair, I would worry about that a little. Not because of her. Just because I'm a person with anxiety and a vivid imagination."

Ava, who had been listening from the hallway, finally looked up from her phone.

"I think you should give her a chance."

Everyone turned toward her.

Ava shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed to have drawn the room's attention. "What? I've been listening. If Agnes really loves Roy, and he wants to be with her, why shouldn't she get a chance? It doesn't mean anyone else loses their place. Mom's always telling me that relationships only work when people are honest about what they want."

Jessica's expression softened. "I do say that, don't I?"

"All the time."

"And you agree with me?"

"Don't sound so surprised."

"I am not surprised."

"You look surprised."

"I'm a mother. I'm allowed to look surprised when my daughter makes a sensible argument."

Ava rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Whatever. I just think Roy should get to decide who he wants to be with. And Agnes should get to ask, as long as she understands that he might say no. Women who love him should at least be given a chance."

Elaine felt a warm affection for the young woman. Ava had grown up watching her mother navigate a difficult marriage and raise a child largely on her own. She was thoughtful, sometimes more perceptive than she let on, and willing to see a situation from more than one angle. Elaine was glad she was part of this conversation, even if she wasn't one of the women directly involved.

"Well," Elaine said, "I think I agree with you."

Monique looked down at her hands again, considering. Her hesitation seemed less about Agnes herself than about the unfamiliar arrangement they were all building. Elaine couldn't blame her. Monique had only recently found herself welcomed into a group of women who already shared affection, memories, and routines. The idea of adding someone else might feel like another change before she'd had time to settle into the first one.

Still, Monique lifted her head.

"If Roy wants to get to know her, I don't think we should stand in the way," she said. "I know what it feels like to make a mistake and want the chance to do better. I wouldn't want people to decide I was beyond forgiveness before they even gave me a chance to show them who I could be."

Elaine felt a tender pang at that. Monique had a great deal to make up for with Michelle, and she seemed painfully aware of it. Yet she was trying. She was here, making an effort with Roy's other girlfriends, stepping into an unfamiliar home because she wanted to be part of her daughter's life again. There was something brave about that, even if Monique probably wouldn't describe it that way.

"Then that's settled," Jessica said. "We'll talk to Roy when he arrives. We'll tell him what Agnes said and let him decide whether he wants to meet with her."

"Should we make a chart?" Zara asked.

"No."

"A list of pros and cons?"

"No."

"A flowchart?"

"Absolutely not."

Zara sighed. "Fine. I'll keep my organizational genius to myself."

"That would be appreciated," Jessica replied, though she was laughing.

The conversation moved on, the tension easing as they began discussing more ordinary things: where everyone might keep their belongings, which cupboard would be best for snacks, and whether the household needed a shared calendar. Jessica was already thinking about practical arrangements. Zara wanted to know if there was enough space for her gaming equipment. Ava suggested that any household calendar should include reminders for taking out the rubbish, because apparently not everyone could be trusted to remember.

Monique joined in when she could, listening more than she spoke, but gradually looking less like a guest who was afraid of overstaying her welcome. Elaine found herself watching the women around the room with a quiet sense of wonder.

This was what she had wanted, though she hadn't known how to describe it at first. Not simply a collection of romantic relationships, not a competition for Roy's time or affection, but a family. A group of people who could support one another, laugh together, and make room for each other's lives. They wouldn't always agree, and they would certainly have to work through difficult moments. But they all loved Roy, and they were learning how to care for one another, too.

It felt like a second chance at something Elaine had thought she already understood.

Her phone buzzed on the sofa beside her. Claire's name appeared on the screen. Elaine smiled automatically, pleased to hear from her daughter, then noticed the message and blinked.

Elaine read it twice. Claire had asked a few questions earlier in the day, but this was becoming a pattern. First she'd wanted to know whether Roy was a good boyfriend. Then she'd asked if Elaine liked his body type. Now she wanted to know what dating him was actually like. It was an odd line of questioning from a woman who was engaged to Adam.

Elaine typed a reply.

She hesitated, then added a heart before sending it.

A moment later, another message appeared.

Elaine stared at the screen. She knew her daughter could be curious, and Claire had never been shy about asking personal questions. Still, there was something about the persistence that unsettled her. Claire wasn't asking what Elaine loved about Roy's personality or whether he treated her well. She seemed particularly interested in his appearance, as though she were trying to understand something that didn't quite fit with her expectations.

Elaine glanced at the others, who were still talking. No one seemed to have noticed her distraction.

The reply didn't come immediately. Elaine set the phone down, but her thoughts stayed with it. She hoped Claire and Adam were still getting along. They had seemed happy the last time Elaine had spoken to her, and she didn't want to imagine that something was wrong. Engagements could be stressful, of course, and even a good relationship had its difficult days. Perhaps Claire was simply curious about her mother's new life. Perhaps she was trying to understand what made Roy so special to the women around him.

That explanation would have to do for now.

Besides, Elaine had enough to think about without inventing problems where there might not be any. She would call Claire tomorrow and ask how she was doing. If something was bothering her, Elaine wanted her daughter to know she could talk about it.

Another burst of laughter from the living room drew Elaine back into the moment. Zara was explaining how she intended to organize her miniature collection, and Jessica was attempting to establish that the dining table would remain available for actual meals. Ava had suggested that Zara could use the spare room, only for Zara to point out that the spare room would become a battlefield the instant she opened her box.

Monique was laughing, too. The sound was quieter than Zara's bright, unrestrained giggles, but it was genuine. She looked more comfortable now, her shoulders relaxed and her hands no longer clasped so tightly together. Elaine hoped that feeling would last. Monique had spent a long time being lonely, and she deserved the chance to find a place among people who wanted her there.

The thought brought Roy to mind again.

He would be arriving soon. Elaine could hardly wait to see him, to wrap her arms around him and feel his familiar warmth. She imagined the expression on his face when he saw them all gathered in Jessica's house, suitcases tucked away and the first official evening of their shared life underway. Roy sometimes seemed overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who cared about him, as though he still couldn't quite believe that he was worthy of so much affection.

Elaine wished he could see himself through their eyes. She wanted to tell him, once again, that he was loved. Not because of what he could give them, or because he was the centre of an unusual arrangement, but because he was Roy. The man who listened. The man who worried about hurting people. The man who tried, even when he didn't know the right thing to do.

The man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

"You're smiling again," Jessica observed.

"Am I?"

"You are. It's a very particular smile. The one you get whenever you're thinking about Roy."

Elaine felt her cheeks warm. "I can't help it."

"None of us can," Zara said. "It's like an involuntary status effect. You think about Roy and suddenly you're smiling at nothing. Very inconvenient when you're trying to look mysterious."

"You have never looked mysterious in your life," Ava told her.

"I could. If I wanted to."

"You'd last about thirty seconds before telling someone what you were thinking."

"That's because my thoughts are interesting."

"Of course they are."

Monique smiled at the exchange, and Elaine was pleased to see it. The women were different in so many ways, from their ages and backgrounds to their personalities and habits. Yet they shared a common tenderness toward Roy, a willingness to make room for the others, and a growing sense that they were creating something together.

Elaine knew the arrangement might look strange to people outside their little circle. She had no illusions about that. Some would judge them, some would misunderstand them, and others would assume there was no way so many relationships could work. Perhaps there would be times when they would struggle to make it work themselves.

But none of that changed what she felt.

She had loved Mark, and she would always be grateful for the life they had built together. Now she loved Roy, too, with a happiness that felt fresh and surprising even after everything they'd shared. There was no reason she couldn't cherish the past while embracing the future. Her old house would always be there in her memories. So would Mark, and the years spent raising Claire and Evan. She didn't need to hold on to every room and every familiar corner to keep those things close.

What mattered was being with the people she loved.

"Well," Elaine said, rising to her feet, "if Roy is going to arrive to find us all settled in, I suppose we should make sure he has somewhere to put his things."

Jessica stood as well. "I've already cleared a space for him."

"Of course you have."

"I'm a lawyer. I believe in preparation."

"And labels," Ava added.

"And labels," Jessica agreed.

Zara picked up her suitcase. "I can help. I'm very good at organizing things, provided the things in question are not kitchen cupboards or anything involving other people's systems of categorization."

"That narrows it down," Ava said.

"Not as much as you think."

Monique rose, smoothing her leopard-print skirt. For a moment she looked uncertain again, as though she wasn't sure whether she should help or wait to be asked. Elaine reached for her hand.

"Come on," she said warmly. "Let's get everything ready together."

Monique's expression softened, enjoying feeling part of things even though it remained uncertain if she would move into the house. "I'd like that."

They moved through the house, finding places for suitcases and discussing which rooms would be used for what. The conversation was ordinary, almost mundane, but Elaine felt a quiet thrill each time someone spoke of the house as theirs. Their belongings would be here. Their routines would take shape here. Their lives would begin to overlap in ways that no one could fully predict.

And when Roy arrived, they would all be waiting for him.

Elaine glanced at her phone once more, wondering whether Claire would reply. The unanswered questions lingered at the edge of her thoughts, but she pushed them aside for the moment. There would be time to call her daughter tomorrow. Tonight was about beginning something new.

As Elaine carried her suitcase toward the room Jessica had set aside for her, she caught sight of the pink floral dress reflected in the hallway mirror. Claire had bought it for her birthday the year before, insisting that the colours suited her and that Elaine deserved something pretty. At the time, Elaine had protested that she didn't need another dress, but Claire had been so pleased with her choice that she'd worn it to dinner that very evening. But now the dress seemed to carry a little piece of her old life into her new one.

She smiled at her reflection, smoothing the fabric at her waist, enjoying the feeling of being Roy's girlfriend. A woman who had found love again, and who was choosing to follow it into a future she hadn't imagined.

From the living room came Zara's enthusiastic voice, followed by Jessica's laughter and Ava's familiar teasing. Monique added a comment of her own, sounding more at ease than she had when she'd first arrived.

Elaine took a breath, feeling the warmth of the house settle around her.

For years, she'd believed that the most important part of her life was behind her. Now she was surrounded by women who loved the same man she did, each of them bringing something different to the family they were building. There was room for laughter, room for uncertainty, and perhaps even room for one more.

If Roy decided he wanted to give Agnes a chance, Elaine would support him. She would have questions, of course. She would want to know Agnes better, and she would expect her to treat Roy and the rest of them with kindness. But she wouldn't close the door simply because the woman asking to come in had once been someone she might have dismissed.

People could change. Elaine knew that better than most.

A car door closed outside. The sound sent a flutter of anticipation through her chest.

Roy was here!

Elaine turned toward the front of the house, her smile growing before she could stop it. Around her, the others began to stir, their conversation fading as they listened for his footsteps.

And when Roy walked through that door, he would find a home full of people who loved him.