Page 120 of The Replay

The child gives Rafa's guest a bright green balloon. They chat for a beat, while Nat leans close to Rafa.

"I thought her name was Lorena," she whispers. "And that we should call her Lori."

"Call her Lori," Rafa says. "'Mina' is what Sofi calls her. Short for Madrina— Lori is Sofi's godmother, but the word was too hard for her to say when she was younger."

Sofi ends up pulling Lori's hand and taking her away to look at something.

I glance around the garden, trying to catch sight of Mariana. I don't see her. She must be socializing elsewhere, treating the party more like a work event. As I knew she would. The fact that half her family is here is distracting her and keeping her busy.

"Right, right," Evie says. "So if I got this right, Lori was your wife's best friend, and is Sofi's godmother, and took the role seriously when Gabby passed."

Whenever we talk about Rafa's late wife, we try to keep it casual. He asked us to. It's hard enough to be a widower parenting your young child, to also have to carry the awkwardness that can take over conversations like this. He said he's done the work to come back from his grief. He doesn't want us to bring it back by making it a thing.

"Yes," Rafa explains. "She lives a couple of hours away by plane, but tries to be present for her and visits a couple of times a year."

"We didn't know any of this," Bear says.

Rafa shrugs. "I don't know why I would have had to tell you."

"And she's staying with you for the holidays," Saint comments. "As friends. Even though she's your plus one. And you said you might be interested in dating."

Something passes behind Rafa's eyes, but he answers calmly enough. "I'm lucky she's around and can be a part of Sofi's life."

"I didn't expect this," Logan says, "but Rafa is clearly deflecting."

I catch sight of Mariana and lose track of everything else. She's talking to her parents and Selena, and looks great in a knit, lilac dress that is a beautiful mix of modern with a touch of vintage. She doesn't seem nervous, but I know her stomach is probably tight. This event is important to her and her plans to impress her parents.

Lori comes back to the group. "Sorry everyone. Sofi wanted to show me a flower she liked."

"You visited the TD yesterday, right?" Damián asks.

"I did!" Lori says. "Rafa heard Saint's parents were taking the twins so he arranged for us to be able to go as well. Neither Sofi or I had ever been."

"It was a lovely surprise to get Rafa's request," Evie says with a mischievous smile. "Rafa has been very private to date."

"Understandable, right?" Lori says. "But Sofi has been talking about making this year's Christmas special, so we're trying to make it very special."

"We love a good dynamic duo," Saint says. "Nice team you guys have going."

As much as I'm listening to the situation around me, I'm also keeping track of Mariana in the distance, until Cora comes and takes her away. The crowd hides her from me and I bite back a sigh. I saw her this morning. I'm not supposed to be missing her, but I am. It's probably because she's been too busy with the last few party details and we haven't spent as much time together as I'd like.

The thought gets erased when a group of people walk past us and we move to give them room. My friends and I end up at the edge of the lawn. Drinkscome around, and I choose a non-alcoholic, fizzy cherry drink. I sip from it and gaze around once more. Mariana isn't around, but her parents are, and my eyes cross with her dad's.

I purse my lips and hold his gaze. He nods. I nod back. Just once, so he can't say I was too rude. That old friend, determination, shows up, and it reminds me I'll feel better afterwards if I appear unaffected. If I hold on to my pride. I straighten and turn back to my friends. Finding them smiling at each other, chatting about who knows what, pulls warmth from my depths, until I can ignore James and the memories he conjures up.

Especially when the twins gasp from some distance away, lanky arms pointing at us, mouth agape, and I follow their gaze to find them pointing at Rafa and Lori.

"You're under the mistletoe!" they exclaim in unison.

Yep. The pair stand under the white-berried branches hanging from the canopy.

The surprise doesn't pierce through the general affection cloaking the group. Instead, it gets infused in mirth and a hint of mischief.

I smile. Rafa and Lori stare at each other with barely-hidden panic. He glances at Sofi a few times. His daughter stares at him and Lori, then at the twins, who have started to insist they should kiss. It's tradition, they say.

The rest of us witness the moment and, for once, the group doesn't intervene.

"I don't know…" Lori tries.