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The music had stopped. The house felt quieter.

Maggie hugged Claire, then Noah.

“You better bring those cookies for Christmas,” Will told Claire with a smile.

“Yes, sir.”

Will gave them both a hug followed by Emily.

“I don’t want you to go,” Ainsley said sadly. She was about to cry.

Claire knelt down. “I know. I’ll be back in a few weeks for Christmas.”

She hadn’t officially discussed it with Noah but they both knew.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Ainsley gave her a hug and then hugged Noah.

Biscuit got goodbye hugs from the family too. Then they were off.

Claire sat in the car, staring out the window as the scenery passed—brown leaves gathered along the roadside, while wreaths and Christmas lights had begun appearing on porches.

Noah glanced over at her. “You’re quiet.”

“I’m just thinking.”

He waited a moment before asking, “What about?”

“Your family. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a family like yours.”

He smiled. “They’re pretty great.”

“That’s an understatement.” She thought back to everything that had happened over the weekend. “Noah, your mom bought me oat milk.”

“I know.”

“And I mean, it’s just everything. The cookies. The ornament. The movie. The Christmas tree farm. The pancakes. The stories. The laughter,” she continued. “I kept waiting to feel like an outsider. Like I was visiting. But I never did. I felt like I belonged. Like I was part of your family.” She smiled. “Like I was home.”

Noah reached over and grabbed her hand. He didn’t say anything.

“Everything just feels different now. I’m happier. I don’t feel like I have to keep protecting myself anymore. I don’t feel like I’m waiting for everything to fall apart. You make everything easier,” she said.

Noah squeezed her hand.

Claire looked at him.

Really looked at him.

At the man who brought her coffee, remembered when she forgot to eat, made room for her things, and gave her a family without ever asking her to earn her place in it.

The words had been building for months.

In every cup of coffee.

Every dinner.