Page 134 of Lucky 22

We break apart, laughing. “Well…you did promise mebreakfast,” I remind him.

“Yes, I did. And it should be ready.”

When he turns to get out of the car, I’m back to beingconfused. “Um…ready?”

Over his shoulder, he looks at me and winks. “Yeah. It lookslike they’re serving it now.” He nods toward the house. When I turn around, Isee our families coming out of—literally—the woodwork.

“What the…oh, my gosh! Look at everyone!”

Naturally, I bolt out of the car and run right into my dad’sarms.

“Hey, sunshine!”

I’m actively crying.

Like…ugly crying, but I don’t care.

“Hey, Dad.” He holds me tightly, and then it’s like I’mcrowd surfing as I’m handed off from one relative to the next. I lose track ofwhere I am and where I’m going, but it’s the best kind of chaos.

It’s full of love.

When I’m finally on my own two feet with only Christian’sarm around me, I ask, “What are you all doing here?”

“Christian’s been working on this for about a month,” my momexplains. “We were all just waiting for him to tell us when you’d be here.”

I look up at him, and he simply shrugs and says, “Hero.”

My bark of laughter is my first response. “Yes, you are.”

“We’ve got all kinds of breakfast foods set up out back,”Christian’s mom chimes in. “The builder wouldn’t allow us to fully set upinside. He’s in the house next door keeping an eye on us, so…”

We all look in that direction and wave.

“Let’s go eat!” someone calls out.

Before I even get two steps, Mr. Lucas approaches. I bracemyself for whatever non-compliment I’m about to get.

“Well done, Ella,” he says. “Congratulations.” If I’m notmistaken, there’s even a hint of a smile on his face. But it’s gone before heturns and walks away.

Christian and I stay right where we are.

“I told you he might surprise you.”

“Oh, he did,” I say.

“Come on. Everyone’s waiting, and I know you’re hungry.” Hetakes my hand and leads me across the lawn, our moms walking with us, when Inotice the building permit sign.

Lot number twenty-two.

I gasp, but before I can say anything, a cardinal fluttersdown, landing on the sign.

“Oh, my goodness,” my mom says in awe. “Will you look atthat?”

We all cautiously take a step forward.

“You know, the cardinal is a symbol of hope, love, renewal,and the beginning of new life,” my mother-in-law adds. “What a lovelyblessing.”

The two of them walk away, smiling and chatting about themeaning of this bold little red bird, and I have to admit, it’s pretty amazing.