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When Maggie Carter told Noah that he had better bring Claire home on his next visit, she meant it.

That’s why they were now sitting in Noah’s car, as he drove to Saratoga Springs, about four hours from Manhattan. Biscuit was in the backseat, of course.

“Let me know if you want me to take a turn driving,” she told him.

He glanced at her before returning his attention to the road. “No, I don’t believe in women driving.”

Claire slowly turned toward him.

He lasted approximately two seconds before grinning. “It’s safer that way.”

“You have exactly four hours to rethink every choice that led you to that sentence.”

Four hours later, they pulled into the driveway of Noah’s childhood home. It was beautiful. Wraparound porch. Rocking chairs.

She imagined his parents probably sat in those rocking chairs and drank coffee.

As they stepped into the house, her eyes landed on family photos lining the staircase. Then a height chart penciled into a doorway. Then a shelf overflowing with board games. An old baseball glove sat on a bench by the door like someone had only just set it down.

Biscuit ran in behind them.

Mrs. Carter wrapped Claire in a hug before Claire had fully stepped through the door. “You came,” she said, sounding genuinely delighted.

Behind her, Ainsley raced down the hallway in socked feet. “Uncle Noah and Claire are here!”

Claire barely had time to return Mrs. Carter’s hug before Ainsley threw her arms around her waist.

No one asked whether Claire wanted coffee. Mrs. Carter simply handed her a mug of coffee with cream and sugar stirred in, as though making sure Claire felt at home was the most natural thing in the world.

She didn’t even remember Mrs. Carter seeing her drink coffee during their visit to Manhattan.

A few hours later, Noah was outside with his dad, and Claire was in the kitchen with Mrs. Carter, Emily, and Ainsley.

Claire attempted to help Mrs. Carter with dinner, but she insisted Claire should just relax. Soon after, dinner was ready.

Noah pulled out the chair beside him for her, like it was second nature. She sat down without a word.

His entire family was so welcoming. It sort of overwhelmed her.

Noah wasn’t just thoughtful. His entire family was. They noticed when someone needed more tea. They remembered little details from conversations hours earlier. They noticed each other.

They noticed her.

Mr. Carter, or Will, asked Claire and Noah both about work. And he was genuinely interested. It wasn’t just small talk. He wasn’t just being polite.

Their family was lively. They all talked and laughed, sitting around the table. They were full of joy and love.

“Did Noah tell you about the time he tried to repair the washing machine when he was twelve?” Emily asked.

Noah pointed his fork at her. “We agreed that story died with Grandma.”

“He flooded the laundry room,” Mrs. Carter explained to Claire.

“I fixed it eventually.”

“After Dad fixed what you fixed,” Emily said.

Claire laughed with everyone else, and something in her chest tightened. The story had clearly been told dozens of times. There were decades of shared jokes around this table, and somehow, they were making room for her inside them.