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We enter the house, and my mom’s eyebrows practically shoot up off her face.
Kristine, meanwhile, looks completely unfazed and unsurprised. “I told you, Sara,” she says, rubbing my mom’s outstretched shin.
“If it isn’t the fiancées!” Henry exclaims, and Mom’s face immediately warms.
“A good night all around, I take it,” Mom says, eyes still flitting between Henry and me, and then down to our hands, which I forgot were still joined. My cheeks flush.
Hannah bounds down the stairs, still in pajamas, pointing at the two of us. “I knew it! I knew it!”
“Shut up,” I say half-heartedly.
“So this is the real deal?” Mom asks. “Because we’re all going to be a family now, and especially with the wedding, I don’t want there to be drama or conflict or—”
Henry drops my hand, taking a few steps forward to squat down in front of my mom on the couch. “Sara, I mean this with all the respect in the world, honestly. But I loved your daughter long before you loved my mom. We were just a little stupid in the middle to get to this point. And it’s as real as it gets.”
My mom gives a slow nod, then leans forward and kisses Henry on the head. “Well, good. It’s about time, then.”
Hearing Henry speak so clearly to our parents makes my heart flip all over again. His confidence in me, in us, in what we could be, feels contagious.
I head to the kitchen to grab some coffee, certain if I stand there any longer, watching him be so tender yet firm with my mom about our relationship, I’ll do something embarrassing like squeal. I grab two mugs, and as I’m pouring, Hannah pinches my side, nearly causing a spill.
“Tell. Me. Everything!” she demands.
“We just…we figured it all out.” My sister fumes next to me at the lack of details. “What else is there to say?”
“And you’re like, together together?”
I shrug. “Yeah, I suppose so.”
Hannah looks me up and down. “And you’re not freaking out?”
I roll my eyes. “Hannah.”
“What? I know you. This just seems very serious very quick for someone who doesn’t do relationships.”
“It’s Henry,” I say simply, and my sister nods.
“Just be careful with him,” she warns. “He’s so hopeless over you it makes me want to punch a puppy.”
“I will be,” I tell her. “I—” Love him, love him, love him. “He’s it, Hanns.”
“And you told him that?” she asks.
“In as many words,” I reply, and she gives me a heavy look, knowing I’ve never said I love you to a man before.
“I just want you to be happy. And to not screw this up for Mom.”
“Why are you suddenly so concerned about my ability to hurt him? He’s the one who wrecked this every time before. And you practically shoved me in his direction yesterday. You’re supposed to be on my team. Always.”
“This is me being on your team, Nor,” she tells me, wrapping her tiny body around me in a tight hug. “I hope you can see that.”
“Coffee?” a deep voice behind us asks.
I tilt my head toward the mug I poured for him, and Henry grabs it, taking a grateful sip.
“Hey, Hannah,” he says.
She lets go of me, giving him a quick side hug before scooting out of the kitchen.
