The smell of Aunt Estella’s cooking drifted through the house before the first guest arrived.

Roasted chicken. Herbed potatoes. Something sweet baking in the oven that had been tempting the twins since mid-afternoon. The dining room table had been extended to its full length, covered in a white cloth, set with plates and glasses and the good silverware that usually lived in the cabinet.

The wedding photo hung in the foyer now, the one from the photoshoot—Franz and Arianne, with Lily and Leo between them, the twins in their formal clothes, Arianne in her wedding dress, Franz in his black suit. It had taken weeks to get it framed. It had taken minutes for Lily to insist it be hung where everyone could see it.

Nate arrived first. He stepped through the door, inhaled deeply, and handed his coat to the rack near the entrance. "Aunt Estella’s cooking. I’d know it anywhere."

"You’ve been here five seconds," Arianne said from the doorway to the sitting room.

"And I already know dinner will be the best meal I eat all week." He paused in front of the wedding photo, studying it with his head tilted. "That’s a good portrait. The twins look like they’re plotting something."

"They were. Lily had opinions about the photographer."

"I’m sure she did. Is this the one that’s going in the hallway?"

"It’s already in the hallway."

"I meant permanently."

"It’s bolted to the wall. It’s not moving."

"Good." He glanced toward the kitchen. "Is Aunt Estella in there? I should pay my respects."

"Pay your respects," Julian said, appearing in the doorway behind him. Kyle darted past both of them toward the sound of the twins’ voices. "You just want to steal something before dinner."

"I want to compliment the chef. There’s a difference."

Julian shrugged off his coat and stopped beside Nate to look at the photo.

"That turned out well. At least you took decent marriage photos this time. But Nate and I still haven’t seen Arianne in a wedding dress in person."

"You weren’t invited to the wedding," Arianne said.

"We know. We’re still bitter about it."

"There were ten people there, including the officiant and the witnesses."

"You could have made it twelve."

"Franz’s parents weren’t invited either. You’re in good company."

Julian considered this. "I suppose I can accept that. Marginally."

Gilbert and Audrey arrived together, followed by Sam a few minutes later. The foyer filled with the noise of greetings and coats being handed off and the particular chaos of people who’d known each other for decades.

Sam had brought gifts for the twins. A set of art supplies for Lily, who immediately began planning what she would draw. A new case for Leo’s tablet, which he accepted with a solemn nod and immediately began transferring his tablet into.

They moved into the sitting room while Aunt Estella finished the last preparations for dinner. Sam settled onto the couch beside Lily, who was already showing her the organizational chart she’d updated over the holidays.

"Daryll officially signed me," Sam said, looking up at the adults. "I’ve got a few projects lined up. Small roles, but they’re building. The film releases in a few months." She paused. "He’s terrifying, by the way. In a good way."

"He sent you the twelve-page document," Franz said.

"He sent me a twenty-page document. It’s been updated."

"That sounds like Daryll."

Sam hesitated. Then she leaned forward, her voice dropping. "Speaking of Daryll. Is it true you’re starting your own talent agency? That you’re not renewing your contract with Bluegate?"

Franz paused. "Where did you hear that?"

"I overheard Monica and Daryll talking about it. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. I was early for a meeting and they didn’t know I was there." She hesitated. "I’m sorry. Was it supposed to be secret?"

Franz sighed. "It’s not secret. It’s just not public yet. We’re waiting until the contract is closer to ending before we announce anything."

Nate, who had been listening from the armchair near the window, leaned forward. "Why aren’t you renewing?"

"I want more control over my projects. I don’t want to be pressured by the company. The recent issues—the smear campaign, the rumors, the club fight—were all handled by me and Daryll. Bluegate didn’t help. They didn’t even offer. I’ve been thinking about leaving since then."

"The company probably wants to know where Noah Hart stands regarding Arianne. She’s the interim CEO of Rochefort Group. That’s a connection they’d want to leverage." Nate swirled the drink in his hand. "Leaving Bluegate means Noah is bound to lose a few major projects and endorsements in the process. You know that."

"I know."

Arianne spoke from her seat near the window. "I’ve already secured a major skincare brand endorsement for Noah and Sam. It’s set for early next year. As for the projects, Franz and Daryll should use their existing connections to secure new ones. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible."

Nate nodded. "The skincare deal helps. Having a major endorsement lined up before you leave sends a signal. It tells the industry you’re not desperate."

"That’s the idea."

Sam, who had said nothing since her apology, looked at Franz. "If you’re starting an agency, and I’m already with Daryll—does that mean I’d be part of it? Officially?"

"That’s the plan. If you want to be."

Sam smiled. "I want to be."

The topic changed as Lily tugged at Audrey’s sleeve. "Aunt Audrey, when is the wedding? Uncle Gilbert said soon but he didn’t say when."

Audrey knelt down to the twins’ level. "Late February or March. Before the summer rush." She glanced at Gilbert, who nodded. "And we wanted to ask you something. Both of you."

Lily straightened, immediately alert. Leo looked up from his new tablet case.

"Lily, would you like to be our flower girl?"

Lily’s face transformed. "Yes! I get to wear a beautiful dress again? I want to! When is it exactly? What color? Can I help pick the flowers? I have opinions about flowers. I want to help."

"You can help pick the flowers," Audrey said, smiling. "And the dress can be whatever color you want, as long as it matches the wedding colors."

"I’ll make it match. I’m very good at matching."

Audrey turned to Leo. "Leo, would you like to be our ring bearer?"

Leo looked at her, then at Gilbert. He picked up his tablet and typed: YES. IMPORTANT JOB. I WILL DO IT RIGHT.

Gilbert’s expression softened. "I know you will."

Lily was already planning. "I wore a flower dress for the photoshoot with Aunt Aria and Uncle Franz. But I need a new dress for the wedding. Something with petals. Not real petals—real ones get squished and then you can’t use them anymore. Maybe silk petals. They last longer."

"We’ll look at options," Audrey said.

"I’ll make a list."