“You never need to go hungry for us,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“But thank you.”
Then she took Sophie inside to change.
When they returned, every person in the backyard went silent.
The dress fit perfectly.
Sophie stared down at the skirt.
She grabbed both sides.
Then she spun.
The skirt flared.
She squealed.
She spun again.
And again.
By the fourth turn, she got dizzy and collapsed into Jenna’s legs laughing.
Caleb laughed even harder.
Sophie stood again and waddled straight toward him.
She put both hands on his cheeks.
Then she kissed him directly on the nose.
Caleb turned bright red.
Everyone laughed.
Even Linda.
Jenna’s sister, Rachel, took a photograph at exactly that moment.
Sophie in her red dress.
Caleb grinning.
Jenna behind them, wiping tears from her cheeks.
I didn’t think much of the picture.
Not then.
After cake, I noticed Linda standing alone near the fence.
