After Anna(28)

‘This is the street,’ Maggie chirped like a tour guide. ‘Merion Avenue.’

‘Oh, it’s so nice! And there’s so many trees.’

‘Wait’ll you see my garden.’

Anna looked over with a smile. ‘I always wanted to learn how to garden.’

‘Me too,’ Maggie said, and they both laughed. She steered downhill toward the house, passing the old stone homes and massive oak trees. Her neighbors were clipping hedges, mulching beds, and unloading SUVs. None of them knew she had a daughter, but they would find out soon enough.

‘Is our house on the right or the left side?’

Our house. ‘The left. There, with the yellow shutters.

‘And let me give you the heads-up about something. Caleb has apraxia, which means that his speech might sound a little slow or halting.’

‘Oh.’ Anna looked over. ‘I saw something about that on your Facebook page. When he got that award.’

‘Right.’ Maggie thought back to the ceremony, which their speech pathologist had organized. ‘He’s doing really well. Just be patient with him. He can be self-conscious around new people.’

‘Of course, no problem.’

‘Thanks.’ Maggie steered the packed Subaru into her driveway, noticing the front door opening. She had texted Noah when they had landed at the airport, and he’d texted back his characteristic OK.

‘What a nice house!’ Anna looked around.

‘There’s the boys.’ Maggie cut the ignition as Noah and Caleb came out of the house. ‘Hey guys, come meet Anna!’

‘Welcome home, ladies!’ Noah hustled toward them with a huge grin, and Maggie got out of the car, seeing as Anna must, the perfect suburban stepdad in a white polo and pressed khakis, like a Dockers ad, but sexy.

Noah gave Maggie a big hug. ‘Babe, I’m so happy! This is a great day!’

‘Isn’t it?’ Maggie let him go, gesturing to Anna. ‘Noah, meet Anna. Anna, Noah and Caleb.’

‘Anna, welcome, it’s wonderful to meet you!’ Noah extended a hand, and Anna shook it with a grin.

‘Thank you so much for having me.’

‘Mag, we got pizza!’ Caleb shouted, wrapping his skinny arms around her. ‘It’s a surprise!’

‘Not anymore.’ Noah laughed.

‘Great idea!’ Maggie hugged Caleb back, realizing she hadn’t had a chance to prepare him to meet Anna. ‘Caleb, this is Anna, my daughter. I told you about her. She’s going to live with us.’

‘Anna, do you like pizza?’ Caleb looked up at her, with a shy smile.

‘Yes, pizza is my favorite.’ Anna grinned down at him.

‘What toppings do you like?’ Caleb asked, his speech remarkably smooth.

‘I like it plain.’

‘Me, too!’ Caleb practically exploded with happiness, and Maggie and Noah exchanged looks. Maggie could tell that Noah had drilled Caleb on the sentences, which was another trick they’d learned, anticipating phrases and sentences that would be needed with new people. Plus, Caleb loved pizza, which was undoubtedly why Noah had ordered some to be delivered. Maggie felt a pang of gratitude for her husband and touched his arm.

Noah put his arm around Maggie. ‘Come inside, we have something to show you.’

‘That’s a secret!’ Caleb ran ahead toward the front door, pumping his arms, and Maggie knew he was showing off for Anna, which she thought was adorable.

‘Come on in,’ Noah said, holding open the door, and Caleb, Anna, and Maggie trundled inside, then Noah closed the door behind them. ‘Caleb, let’s give her a quick tour before the surprise.’

‘Okay.’ Caleb deflated.

Maggie took the lead. ‘This is the family room,’ she said, gesturing. The room was large, with a warm pine floor, a navy-patterned Karastan, and navy-plaid couches grouped in front of a fireplace with a brick surround. The ceilings were high, and the room was light and airy, owing to a panel of windows in the front and side.

‘Here’s the dining room, which we never use.’ Maggie walked them through the dining room, dominated by an Irish farm table she had bought in New Hope. It had a rustic finish and matched a pine credenza under a panel of windows on the right.

‘Love the table.’ Anna ran a fingertip along the surface.

‘Now for the kitchen.’ Maggie led them to the kitchen, ringed by white windowed cabinets and white-granite countertops. The back wall had a sunny southern exposure. ‘We added the windows over the sink so I can see the garden.’

Noah interjected, ‘It took forever.’

‘Only five months.’ Maggie patted the kitchen island, where they ate most of their meals. It had only three stools, so she made a mental note to get another one. ‘And we added the island, which has bookshelves for cookbooks. How cool is that?’

‘Very cool.’ Anna peeked at the cookbooks. ‘Lidia Bastianich. My Housemaster watches her TV show.’

Caleb shifted his feet. ‘Can we show the surprise now?’

Maggie and Noah started to answer, but Anna stepped forward with a grin.

‘Caleb, I want to see my surprise! Lead the way!’ Anna held out her hand, and Caleb tugged her out of the kitchen toward the staircase.

‘Right behind you.’ Maggie looked over at Noah, who put an arm around her.