Page 71 of The Edge Of Us

"It's coming, baby," I called out, smoothing the hem of my dress. I had gone with something soft and neutral, not too showy, but enough to look like I had things together. I didn't feel like I did, but I had to appear like it.

The backyard was decorated in soft pastels and golden accents. Brittany had helped me with everything-balloons, streamers, a cake that looked straight out of a magazine.

She came up behind me just then, sunglasses perched on her head, holding two paper cups of lemonade. "We really did a good job, didn't we?"

I smiled, touched her arm. "You saved me. Like always."

She rolled her eyes but grinned. "Someone's gotta keep you upright."

To my surprise, Tate and Sylvia walked in through the garden gate a few minutes later. I blinked in shock, nearly dropping my drink.

"You're here?" I asked, voice cracking.

Tate laughed as he approached me, arms wide open. "Damn right we are. We're out. Finally."

Sylvia hugged me tightly. "We wouldn't miss Astrid's party. And we've missed you, Corinne."

It warmed my chest to see them like this-smiling, looking like themselves again. After all we'd been through in the facility, I thought it would be years before we all stood in the same place, sane and somewhat whole.

Dylan, my sister, arrived shortly after with our parents. Her hair had gotten longer, and she brought a huge pink-wrapped box for Astrid. She hugged me so hard my ribs ached.

"You look... good," she said, her voice laced with pride and surprise.

"I feel okay," I replied truthfully.

"That's more than enough."

Then Allen arrived-an hour into the party, dressed in his usual quiet elegance: button-up, sleeves rolled, watch shining in the sun. He didn't come alone. His parents followed just behind,carrying gift bags and wearing smiles that had softened with time.

Astrid ran to him immediately, her little shoes kicking up grass. "Daddy!" she squealed.

He bent down to catch her mid-run, lifting her into the air as she giggled. Kyle followed a beat later, throwing his arms around Allen's waist.

"Hey, buddy," Allen said, ruffling his hair. "You helping your sister run this party or what?"

Kyle grinned. "She's bossy."

"She gets it from your mom," Allen said with a wink, just loud enough for me to hear.

I rolled my eyes, but my lips curved despite myself.

His parents, ever graceful, came up to greet me. Judith pulled me in for a hug, surprising me.

"Thank you for having us," she said. "We wouldn't miss our granddaughter's big day. Or our grandson's dramatic storytelling."

"He's been rehearsing for days," I said with a small laugh.

Greg, Allen's father, crouched beside Kyle and whispered something that made him burst out laughing.

For a moment, just one brief flicker of time, it looked like a family. Whole. Simple. Soft around the edges.

Allen walked up to me, Astrid on his hip, her tiny hand clutching his collar. He looked at me for a moment, something unreadable in his eyes.

"Thanks for letting us be here," he said quietly.

I nodded. "You didn't have to ask."

"I did," he said. "After everything."

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