Dinner with the Sawyers was relaxed and fun. I felt comfortable enough to laugh along with them at their stories of the day at the nursery, and Michael kindly shared the high and low points of our first stick shift lesson. He and his dad got another good laugh at my expense.

Marly shook her head in mock severity at both her son and husband. “I think it was very brave of Tasmyn to try something new,” she proclaimed. “You two should be ashamed of yourselves for laughing.”

“You weren’t there, Mom. It really was funny,” Michael informed her.

After dinner, I insisted on helping with dish cleanup. When Marly protested, I gathered my courage and replied, “If you really want me to feel at home, you have to let me help. I’m not used to being pampered. I’d like to help.”

I saw Marly shoot Luke a secret smile before she answered me. “Thank you, Tasmyn. I would love to have your help—and your company—in the kitchen.”

We worked together with the same sort of light chatter I shared with my own mother. I was enjoying myself immensely, to the point that I lowered my perpetual guard and before I knew it, I was hearing Marly.

…Like her so much… sweet girl, but something different about her too, just what Michael needs. Someone to keep him on his toes… so glad that he chose someone I can love, too. Wonder what Lela will think of her… she’s been the princess around here so long…

I frowned in concentration and with effort pulled the wall back into place. Marly, who I noticed was as perceptive as her son, saw my face.

“Are you all right?” she questioned, concern tingeing her voice.

“Oh, yes, thank you. This whole evening—afternoon, day—has been such a treat for me. You have a beautiful home, and a wonderful family. Thank you for letting me visit.”

“Tasmyn.” Marly laid her hand on my arm. “I don’t say this lightly. You are welcome here, anytime. We love the fact that Michael’s friends consider the nursery a second home, and they’re here, frequently. But you’re special. I hope that you’ll visit often, and that you’ll look at our home as yours, too. And on Luke and me—well, not as parents, certainly, but as friends, I hope.”

“Thank you,” I murmured. “You can’t know what that means to me.”

“I think I can understand a little,” she answered. “Michael told us that moving your whole life forced you to be a little isolated. That’s hard for me to truly understand, because I lived all my life in one place, until college and then until Luke and I lived here. And once you’ve found the person you’re meant to be with, it doesn’t really matter where you live, because where he is becomes home. But I can imagine that for a child—and an only child, at that—it must have been quite lonely.”

I nodded. “I don’t think I realized how lonely until I moved here—until I met Michael and found out what I had been missing,” I confessed.

Marly smiled and gently hugged me to her. “As far as I can see, loneliness isn’t going to be a problem anymore,” she promised. “Matter of fact, you might get tired of all of us and need some time on your own. That’s fine, as long as you know that we’re here for you, whenever you need us.”