Emily came down the stairs glowing. She was wearing the pearl-gray suit she saved for important meetings and smiling so hard it lit up her whole face.
“I got it!” she shouted.
Daniel came down behind her, tying his tie.
“What happened, Mommy?” Sarah asked through a mouthful of pancakes.
“I got promoted, sweetheart. Your mommy is the new regional operations manager. The youngest in the company’s history.”
Daniel hugged her and lifted her off the ground.
“I knew it. I knew that position was yours.”
I was at the stove flipping pancakes.
“Congratulations, Emily,” I said sincerely. No matter how tense things were, I did not wish her failure.
She barely looked at me.
“Thanks, Mother-in-law.”
And she stayed in Daniel’s arms.
“We have to celebrate,” my son said. “Big. The way my wife deserves.”
“Skyline Grill,” Emily said at once, eyes bright. “The one with the view of downtown.”
“Whatever it is, money is no object tonight,” Daniel said.
Michael shot his hand up like he was in school.
“Am I going?”
“Of course, champ.”
“The whole family,” Daniel said.
My heart skipped. The whole family. That included me, did it not?
I set the pancakes on the table and wiped my hands on my apron.