For her grand plan to embarrass me had backfired spectacularly; instead, I had arrived with a secret that demanded respect, one that turned whispers of derision into murmurs of astonishment.

As we drove away, the estate disappearing in the rearview mirror, Alex snuggled closer. “Mom, are we okay?”

I smiled down at him, warmth flooding my chest. “Yes, sweetheart. We’re more than okay.”