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“Yeah.” Moxie’s voice dropped until it had almost faded away. “It makes sense. She’s, like, an amazing mom. And everyone wants a baby.”
Sara covered her mouth with her hand and went even paler than she had been before when she saw the garbage bags in the hall. She reached for the doorknob, and Sam laid a hand on her wrist to gently hold her back.
???“Anyway, I just don’t want to be in the way, you know?” Moxie sniffled quietly. “She said you had already started on the paperwork and everything.”
Sam pointed down the hall, and Sara got up and tiptoed down to it, letting herself in quietly and returning in under a minute. “Moxie, do you remember our first conversation in Moxie Java?”
“When I was holding a gun on you?” Moxie sniffled again and slid the torn paper back under the door with just a cho
colate chip on it. “Yeah. I think I’ll remember every bit of that till I’m ninety.”
“Well, I told you that day I don’t lie. And if you want me to tell you the truth now, I will.”
Moxie was silent for a long moment, then said in a voice that sounded much younger than it ever had, “Yeah. I’d rather just know.”
“Well, we’re definitely looking at adoption.” Sam took the papers that Sara brought from her office, placed a fresh cookie on them, and slid them slowly underneath the door.
She watched as Moxie’s fingers plucked up the cookie and smiled as a flurry of crumbs dropped onto the papers. She and Sara watched the strip of daylight underneath the door as Moxie picked up the papers and stood, the scuffed white edge of her Converse pressed against the door.
“Oh my God.” Moxie’s words were a whisper, as quiet as the door as it opened. She stood in front of them, her adoption papers in her hand. “It’s me. You want to adopt me.”
Sara wiped a tear from her cheek with her fingertips and leaned into Sam’s shoulder. “I was talking about you that day, Moxie. Just you.”
Sam smiled and winked at Moxie. “I’ve known for a while, and when I brought it up to Sara, she asked me what took me so damn long.”
“So.” Moxie pushed her glasses up on her nose. “You really aren’t waiting for a baby?”
“Nope.” Sara shook her head. “We want you. To be our daughter, share our last name, and let us drive you crazy worrying when you start to date in high school.”
Moxie flashed them a smile. “Does it help that I’ll be dating girls?”
“Oh, thank God.” Sam leaned dramatically on the door frame and high-fived Sara. “I mean, straight would have been fine, I guess, but I was hoping for a gay daughter.”
Sara pulled Moxie into a hug and Sam wrapped her arms around both of them. “So,” Sam said, holding Moxie and Sara tight. “Is that a yes?”
Epilogue
One month later
Sara pushed open the door to the diner and double-checked for the third time that the Closed sign was visible. Mary was putting the finishing touches on the party decorations, and Jennifer and Murphy were supposed to be tacking up the bunting on the back wall, but only half of it was hung. What they were actually doing was standing under it kissing, a babbling Mary Elizabeth dangling between them in the carrier Murphy had strapped onto his chest.
Sara had just opened her mouth when Mary stole the words right out of it. “Hey, you two!” Mary shot them her best stern look from across the diner. “Canoodle on your own time. We’ve got less than thirty minutes to go.”
Jennifer and Murphy laughed and got back to tacking up the green-and-white bunting along the wall, McCall High’s school colors. Sara caught sight of Mara behind the Formica countertop and made a beeline for her. “How’s the food? Is the kitchen caught up, because if not…” Sara peered through the windows on the double doors behind the counter. “I mean, if they need help, I can get back there and—”
Mara reached under the counter and handed Sara a frosted pink champagne glass full of fizz. “Your wife has already been here and banned you from the kitchen. And they’re under strict orders to chuck you out if you set foot back there.”
“Thanks, Mara.” Sara took a long swig of the sparkling rosé and a deep breath. “And you’re sure everyone got their shirt out of the boxes by the door?”
???“I handed them out personally, and everyone on the guest list is here.” She took a breath and smiled at Sara, who felt as relaxed as a meerkat eating caffeine cookies. “We just lowered the main table.” Mara pointed to the wooden community table that Sara had made for the diner when she’d opened the restaurant. She’d designed it to fit snugly against the ceiling when not in use, but it lowered easily with a pulley system for the locals’ potluck on Sunday or special events. “And the kitchen is going to start loading it with party food in about three minutes.” She put her arm around her and squeezed her shoulders. “I know how important tonight is, and I just want you to enjoy it. I’ve got this handled.”
Sam walked in from the back patio wearing slim white jeans, her arms looking even more sculpted in a snug black crewneck T-shirt. Sara could see the patio behind her was already packed with Moxie’s friends, family, and locals milling around while Mara and the diner staff finished with the final touches.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Sam walked up with a clipboard and showed it to Sara. “The list you gave me is done, and everyone has a drink—”
“Strawberry limeade? That’s Moxie’s favorite.”
“Everyone has a strawberry limeade slush, plus one of those useless striped paper straws that Mary brought.” Sam winked as she set the clipboard on the counter and circled Sara’s waist with her hands. “Also, don’t look now, but your kitchen staff is coming out with the party food platters.”
