Chapter 27
On Wednesday evening, Janie pulled into the garage parking lot at six thirty and frowned.
Why were all the second-floor lights on when Hannah had texted saying she’d be waiting outside?
And if she was still working late, she would’ve left the bay doors open.
She always said she liked the flow of air even in the cooler months.
Something didn’t feel right. Janie tried not to catastrophize and grabbed her phone to text Hannah, then noticed she’d missed a message twenty minutes ago.
Can you come inside? I’m in the office doing paperwork.
Paperwork on any night would’ve been an early Christmas miracle.
Hannah hated the administrative tasks of being part-owner in the garage, and Janie was certain Shay and RB handled most of it.
But paperwork on a Friday night when they were supposed to be heading home for family dinner and a movie with the triplets was nearly impossible to believe.
The side door was unlocked, which was also weird. Gabe was serious about security almost to the point of paranoia, especially now that they had so many expensive tools and rare cars with custom paint jobs inside.
Janie stepped into the dark hallway leading to the main garage floor and heard multiple voices, low and conspiratorial, coming from the main bay. Her heart thudded louder against her ribs. Had something happened? Was Hannah okay?
The lights blazed on and a chorus of voices shouted, “SURPRISE!”
Janie screamed and clutched her chest, her heart lurching to her throat.
It took her a few seconds before she settled and began to take in the scene.
The garage bay had been transformed from a steel and grease pit to a celebratory space with string lights, decorations, and a banner reading “CONGRATULATIONS, SOLO & JANIE.” In the back, near the tire station, was a table loaded with food and a beautiful floral arrangement, and the space was filled with what looked like every person she cared about in the world grinning at her like maniacs.
Hannah was front and center, looking absurdly pleased with herself, and tears sprang to Janie’s eyes as she started laughing. “You butthead.” She clicked her way across the concrete floor toward Hannah and shoved her shoulder. “I thought something was wrong. I thought—”
“Sorry for the mild heart attack.” Hannah grinned and pulled Janie into a hug. “But we wanted to celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
“You.” Hannah pulled back and held her at arm’s length. “Us. We fought, and we won.”
Janie looked around at the gathered faces: Gabe and Lori, Shay and Rosie, Woody, RB.
Tom was holding a squirming Chloe while Luna hung onto his other hand, and Tia kept Carmen’s arms full.
There were some people she didn’t recognize, including a couple of women in Sanctuary polos, an awkward-looking woman in a bow tie, and a redhead with a Flower Loft apron on.
But they all faded into the backgrounded when she locked eyes with her precious friend.
“Maria?” Janie’s voice cracked. “Mirta?”
“We wouldn’t miss this for anything, mija,” Maria said, crossing to pull Janie into a warm hug.
Janie relaxed into the embrace and inhaled the scent of coffee and cinnamon coming from Maria’s hair.
“I can’t believe you all did this.” She stayed in Maria’s arms, sniffling a little, overwhelmed by the love in the room, by the fact that all these people—her family—had shown up for her.
“This is… I don’t even know what to say. ”
“Say you’ll eat,” Woody called out. “Because Gabe and I cooked, and if you don’t appreciate it, we’ll be devastated.”
Janie hoped that wasn’t true. They were both wonderful people, but neither of them was known for their culinary skills. “You cooked?” She looked at Gabe, praying for her to say she was joking.
Gabe shrugged. “We ordered it from Bonnie’s and arranged it nicely on serving platters. That counts, right?”
Everyone laughed, and Hannah took Janie’s hand, leading her further into the space.
Up close, and now that she was a little less on edge, Janie could see the thought that had gone into this.
She spotted plenty of her favorite foods amongst the inevitable pizza and beer.
Even the wine they always shared on their anniversaries was chilling in an ice bucket.
Janie tugged on Hannah’s shirt. “When did you plan all this?”
“This week. I wanted to do something to mark what you’ve done. I wanted to celebrate you choosing yourself and choosing us. And to remind you that you have a chosen family who loves the hell out of you.”
Janie couldn’t speak for a moment, like her throat couldn’t possibly be wide enough to allow her gratitude out. Rosie came up beside her with a glass of wine, Shay hugged her, and Janie found herself surrounded by people wanting to congratulate her and to tell her how proud they were.
“Mommy!” Chloe pulled away from Tom and rushed up to her.
Janie swept her daughter up in her arms and breathed in a big hit of her perfect toddler scent.
Tom put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m proud of you,” he said quietly. “After everything you’ve been through and survived, you’re still smiling. You’re a fighter, Janie. My daughter and my granddaughters are lucky to have you.”
“I’m lucky to have you too,” Janie said. “You’ve been more of a parent to me than my own mother ever was.”
His eyes got shiny, and he cleared his throat loudly. “Well, you’re family. This is how it is.”
There was that word again. Family. Not of blood, or of obligation, but a family through choice. And here was hers, showing up and loving her unconditionally.
Chloe squirmed to get down, then toddled toward where Luna and Tia were “helping” RB look through a box of car parts. Janie watched them for a while, her heart so full it ached.
“Hey.” Gabe offered a glass of wine. “You doing okay? Not too overwhelmed?”
“Overwhelmed in the best way.” Janie grasped the drink gratefully and took a big swallow. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us. I’m so glad you’re here.”
Gabe smiled. “Solo would’ve killed us if we hadn’t shown up. She’s driven us all insane this week, texting in the group chat at all hours to make sure everything was perfect. “
Janie stared across at Hannah, and her stomach flipped at the sight of her wife in a crisp polo shirt and dark jeans, snug in all the right places. “She’s pretty perfect herself.”
“Don’t tell her that. Her ego’s already big enough.” Gabe grinned then shook her head. “Seriously though, you two have come through something that would have destroyed most couples. You should be proud.”
“I am,” Janie said. “I’m scared, but proud.”
“Good. Fear means you’re paying attention.” Gabe clinked her beer against Janie’s glass. “To new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings.” She didn’t miss the way Gabe quirked her eyebrow, like she was warning Janie not to screw it up again. Janie didn’t blame her. Hannah had been the baby of their group for a long time, and they were all hyper-protective of her.
“Be careful with Solo,” Gabe said. “She’s not the superwoman she pretends to be.”
“I will, I promise.” Janie kissed Gabe’s cheek then made her way around the room, talking to everyone, accepting hugs and congratulations, and feeling seen.
Lori pulled her aside near the makeshift bar RB had set up.
“I know we don’t know each other that well yet,” Lori said, “but I wanted to say that watching you and Solo fight for your family has been inspiring. My parents have always had this incredible marriage, and I used to think that kind of love just happened naturally, that you either had it or you didn’t.
But seeing you two actually work at it and choose each other every day, even when it’s been so hard, has made me realize that the best relationships are the ones people fight for. ”
“Thank you.” Tears edged Janie’s eyes again, and she blinked them away. “That means a lot.” She gestured toward Gabe. “You both seem really happy.”
“We are.” Lori’s smile was soft. “Though I have to admit, being around all of Gabe’s crew with the history they share can be a little intimidating sometimes.”
Janie took Lori’s hand and squeezed gently. “You fit though. I can see the way Gabe looks at you, and the way everyone’s welcomed you. You belong here.”
Before Lori could respond, Shay swept in with Rosie in tow.
“Enough serious talk,” Shay said. “We’re here to celebrate. Janie, c’mere, we need to show you something.”
Shay and Rosie led her to a corner where a collage of photos had been stuck to the wall, of Janie’s memories going back years.
Janie and Hannah on their wedding day. The garage crew in their Army days.
The triplets as newborns. Janie’s grandmother at her law school graduation.
Christ, Hannah was set on ruining her eye makeup tonight.
“Solo put this together,” Shay said. “She wanted you to see your history, your family, and all the people who’ve loved you and shaped you.”
“And my old college friend, Alyssa, brought in the gorgeous flowers,” Rosie said.
She gestured to the redhead in the leather apron, who was in animated conversation with the tall masc in the bow tie Janie had spotted earlier. She looked even more awkward now, if that were possible.
“It’s all so…” Janie touched the soft petals of a yellow rose.
“Please thank her for me.” She stared at the photo of her grandmother.
Even in a two-dimensional snapshot, the unconditional love in her grandmother’s eyes was obvious as she smiled at the camera, her arm around Janie.
She closed her eyes, feeling the strength and warmth of Grandma Susan’s love around her, and she could almost hear her voice: Build your own family, sweetheart.
Build your own life. Janie opened her eyes and smiled.
“It’s beautiful.” She pointed to the picture of the garage crew with some desert in the background. “Hannah looks so young. You all do.”