Amy laughs. “Jess, there’s always chocolate.”

Jess grins. “That’s what Daddy always says.”

I put Jessica on the ground between us. She reaches up for both our hands and together, the three of us walk out of Sam Serty’s office as a family. And as we go down the street, I revel in the first time feeling of getting to show off my daughter with the person I love.

The person who chose us.

27

AMY

TWO MONTHS LATER…

If someone would have told me a year ago how much my life would have changed in seemingly the blink of an eye, I wouldn’t have believed them. However, it’s truly amazing how beautiful your life can become when you give into it and let the universe take you where you need to go.

In fact, letting my mom go and solidifying things with Hunter (and Jessica) was exactly what I needed to get my writing back on track.

Only a week after Hunter received full custody and full parental rights to Jessica, I was standing in a meeting with Kris, Fiona, and the editorial interns, pitching an idea for my next book.

This was the one that stuck.

“Oh, Kitty, I knew you could do it,” Kris replied after I finished my presentation, clapping her hands together, starry-eyed and smiling. “You’ve pinned it just right, I think.”

I had smiled gratefully to Fiona. Though she can be caught as the middleman between editor and writer, she didn’t give up on me for a second. When the idea came to me for what is my latest book, I called her quite literally in the middle of the night and she stayed up for hours with me, trying to work it out.

You’re Priceless, Petunia was fast-tracked for production and publication.

I got my hands on the advanced reader copies this morning, and of course, the first people who get to see them are my family.

All my sisters and my dad are piled into the room for the occasion, as is our tradition. Everyone is reading studiously to themselves, even Stella who can now read picture books entirely on her own. Her reaction has been the cutest to watch because of how, from time to time, she’ll laugh or gasp at something.

I’m watching my dad most of all. He cries after every single one. And it’s clear as he turns page after page, he’s getting choked up.

I can’t blame him. This book is probably the closest to my heart. Yes, even more than the one about divorce.

This one is about me.

In it, everything seems to be going right for Petunia. Her dad packs her favorite lunch, she is team captain in kickball, she gets invited to a party. But nothing feels right. Nothing feels good. And it’s all because Petunia doesn’t love herself enough to recognize love in others.

“Brilliant!” is how Kris had described the idea. “You found the meeting of the complicated and the simple. This is just –” My posh British editor had actually squealed.

Kira finishes first. A speed reader to her core. As soon as she closes it, she smiles at me warmly. Kira’s never been one who needs to say much with her words. Her face always says it all.

You did good, sis.

“Oh my god,” Gillian says as she closes the book. “Seriously, Ames?”

I grin and shrug.

Dana and Harley finish up soon after that. And then Dad, who has to take off his reading glasses to wipe his eyes free of tears. “Oh, Daddy…” Dana goes over to his armchair and squeezes in next to him.

Her comfort just makes him cry harder. And then she’s crying.

“You guys, you can’t –” I look back at Harley, the one with the stiffest upper lip, whose lower lip is trembling. “Harley!”

“We can’t help it! It’s – it’s beautiful,” she says in their defense.

Stella looks up, frowning. “Everyone, shhh! I’m not done.”