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“Thanks, Ivy.” Grant accepted a hug from her.

Jack came up next, holding out his hand to Grant. “Congratulations. Brother.”

The handshake turned into a hug. Grant’s eyes closed briefly. He held on to Jack for a moment before they stepped apart.

“An answer to prayer,” Jack said. “Don’t you ever forget that.”

Grant nodded, unable or unwilling to speak.

I went back to him. He put his arm around my waist, and I leaned into him.

“Two minutes until the new year,” the DJ called.

“Champagne,” Ivy said. “Everybody needs champagne.”

Glasses were found and refilled. Holly hugged me, then Madeleine and Blake. Knox clapped Grant on the shoulder hard enough to make him shift his feet.

Grant retrieved our champagne and handed me my glass. I held it carefully in my right hand. I couldn’t stop looking at my left.

“Look at the sides,” I said.

“It belonged to a woman named Iris Johnson,” Grant said. “She raised six kids and started a school for girls about a hundred years ago. According to Vera anyway.”

“Vera? So it really wasn’t fly fishing gear?” I asked.

“No. It was a ring. Soren knew where to go, and he was right,” Grant said.

“Iris,” I said softly. “A mother and a teacher. I like that.”

“I thought so too,” Grant said. “She’ll bring us good luck.”

“I’m glad you didn’t give it to the goose,” I said.

“Or Marge,” Grant said.

“Marge only wanted me,” Jack said.

“Thirty seconds!” the DJ announced.

Everyone gathered closer. Jack tucked Ivy beneath his arm. My mother stood with June, holding a glass in one hand and a crumpled tissue in the other.

Grant took my left hand and lifted it to his lips.

The countdown began.

“Ten!”

Grant set his glass on a nearby table.

“Nine!”

I handed him mine.

“Eight!”

He came back to me, smiling.

“Seven!”