Page 38 of Stars Like Confetti

Even now where she might have noticed once I stood up, she was just as distracted as I was by Theo’s house. "Holy shit," she murmured, getting out of the driver's seat of her own car.

The two-story ranch-style house sat away from the road, complete with a wraparound porch and even a white picket fence. The wooden swing on the porch looked like it had been transplanted from somebody's meemaw's front porch, and I thanked the constant warm weather in Georgia for giving me the chance to take full advantage of that.

"Brace yourself," Theo said, letting me and Sophie past the gate and leading us up the driveway.

The front door opened and I had precisely a millisecond to prepare myself before a massive ball of brown and white fluff launched itself at me.

I stumbled, but recovered, giggling my way through sloppy wet kisses. I turned my head, but the dog followed. "I didn't know you had a bear!"

The beast got a look behind me at Sophie and thundered off, giving me a chance to breathe. "That's Cujo," Theo explained.

"Cujo?" I laughed.

"Yeah, but I don't think he'll be mauling anyone anytime soon. He's too busy working on his tan."

I giggled, and another person emerged from the house, and the smile faded from my face. Uh-oh.

Theo's mom.

"Welcome home!" she called, slipping her feet into a pair of sandals and meeting us halfway down the driveway, her floral sundress swishing around her legs as she walked. She'd always looked young, but time had been good to her.

Theo got… so many things from their mom. Appearances were just the beginning. They had the same kind, dark eyes and sun-kissed hair, even if Augusta's was more gray than rosy these days. She reached out to hug her child, and I didn't miss the soft whispers they traded. Sophie squealed behind me, accepting the same treatment from Cujo that I'd received.

I watched for a moment, then Theo and their mom separated and Augusta turned to me. My mouth went dry, and I swallowed hard. "Mom," Theo said, "You remember Shea."

I steeled myself.

Who's Shea? Oh, you mean [insert deadname here]. Oh, where have you been all this time?

"Of course, I do."

Or none of the above…

Augusta approached me with her arms outstretched, with nothing but kindness painted across her features. I let her embrace me, wrapping my arms around her in turn. She smelled like gardenias and… safety. "Welcome home, honey," she murmured in my ear, and the combination of her words, her touch, and the nostalgic scent wrapping around me was so damn comforting it brought tears to my eyes.

"Thank you," I said, so softly that my voice was merely a whisper.

Augusta kept the hug brief, turning her attention to my best friend but keeping an arm around my waist. "And Cujo's latest victim must be Sophie."

A hand appeared through the fluff and waved. "Hi!"

I did my best to mask my sigh of relief. Of course Theo would have told their mom everything—they always did. And unlike my bigoted, tone-deaf parents, Augusta was kind enough not to address the elephants in the room. I had enough to fill a circus.

"Mom, could you show Sophie to her space while I help Shea with something?"

"Of course, I can."

Augusta broke away from us to rescue Sophie from the wrath of Cujo and showed her inside. Though instead of the front door, she led Sophie around the side, where I presumed her suite had its own entrance.

"Thank you," I said to Theo once we were alone.

"For what?"

For having an amazing family? For bringing me back into your life without a second thought?

For being everything I ever needed…

Theo grabbed the diaper bag from the back seat, expertly disguised as an overnight bag, and waited for me to answer. I stayed silent long enough that they locked the car and rejoined me, putting a tender hand on my lower back.