t before getting a divorce from Max. It took a while for the divorce to be settled, as Max didn't want t

iet town, and she liked it that way. She didn't want any drama or exc

hey were both bright, happy children, and they loved their mother very much. Carmela was devoted to them, and she loved spend

s about their father, but Carmela

asked Hannah one morning as Carmel

ie, sometimes things don't work out the way we want them to," she said gently

ah, his brow furrowed in conf

la si

"We had different ideas about how we wanted to live our lives. So we decided to go our

her eyes filling with tears. "All th

children. "I know, honey," she said

plain. "Love comes in all shapes and sizes. You can have a family without a daddy, and you can still be happy.

other. Slowly, they nodded their heads. "I guess that's t

p. As they approached, Carmela could see the other children gathered there. She could also see some of the parents, talking and lau

," she said, giving them e

a flush of shame. But then she remembered what she had told the children. She had a family, even if it wasn't traditional

her best friend, Sarah. They met soon after she

mela said, a smi

are

arah said. "Listen, I've got s

t's amazing!" she said. "Congrat

with joy. "We've been trying for a while, and we'r

amazing parents," Carmela

bout the plans she and Dan had made. She talked about baby names an

ing, but inside she fe

en when she found out she was pregn

had turned to heartbreak. She pushed the

aid. "My doctor told me that I'm might be

piness or sadness or something else entirely. "Twins!" she ex

but I'm so happy. I just wanted to share the news wit

appy for you. Having twins is a big deal, but I know you and

wanted a big family, and now it's really happening." She paused, then added, "I

d I feel th

rned, but there was nothing there. But as she turned back, she caught a glimpse of movement in the mirror. A shadow moved behind

sked. "You sound a

just been daydreaming for a minute. Sorry, I missed th

I appreciate you and how you're always there f

ng to push away the sense of unease that had crept o