Max ran up to Elias. «Uncle Elias, can I come visit again?»
«Of course you can. Auntie Maya and I will be waiting for you.»
«And will you come visit us? I have lots of toy cars.»
«We’ll definitely come,» Maya promised.
After the guests left, Elias and Maya stayed to clear the dishes. «Did you like my friends?» Elias asked.
«Very much. Celeste is an incredible woman, and Max is simply a sweetheart.»
«Yes, they’re good people. I like helping them.»
«Elias,» Maya said, stopping in the middle of the kitchen. «Forgive me one more time for everything. For the distrust. For the spying. For almost destroying our relationship over silly fantasies.»
Elias hugged her. «Stop apologizing. I’m also to blame. I should have told you everything immediately. And now we have new friends and possibly new colleagues soon.»
«If Celeste takes the job, that would be great. The communication with other children will be useful for Max.»
«And maybe we should think about having children too,» Elias proposed cautiously.
Maya looked at him in surprise. «You think?»
«Why not? We’ve been married for three years. Everything is stable. And seeing how you interacted with Max today, I realized you would be a wonderful mom.»
«And you’ll be a wonderful dad. It shows in how much Max is drawn to you.»
«So what do you think?»
Maya smiled. «I think that’s a wonderful idea.»
A week passed. Celeste called and accepted the job at the children’s center. The center director was pleased; he really needed an experienced bookkeeper. «Miss Maya, your recommendation was gold,» he told her. Celeste quickly got her bearings, and Maya was happy that everything worked out. Max also quickly adapted to the new environment, happily playing with the other children. After his mom’s workday, he often stayed an hour or two longer to talk with Maya.
Olivia and Elias continued working on the Parkside Boulevard project. Now Maya knew about their collaboration and even sometimes asked about the progress of the work.
«How’s the construction coming along?» she would ask during dinner.
«Well. Olivia brilliantly solved the problem with the upper floor planning. We would have struggled for another month without her. She really is a professional.»
«Yes, a very talented architect. Too bad we didn’t think of working together sooner.»
Maya no longer felt jealous hearing praise for Olivia. She now understood that Elias could appreciate his ex-wife’s professional qualities without threatening her current marriage.
A year passed. Maya sat in the rocking chair in the nursery, feeding her three-month-old daughter, Eva. The summer sun shone outside, and peace and quiet reigned in the apartment.
Elias looked into the room. «How are our girls?»
«Eva ate and is falling asleep,» Maya whispered. «And the guests will be here soon.»
«Yes, at three o’clock.» Today, they were celebrating the first anniversary of their «great company,» which is what they jokingly called the group of friends that formed after that memorable Sunday lunch.
Many things had changed over the year. Celeste had married the center’s program coordinator, Jordan Scott. They had a modest but very warm wedding four months ago in a small circle of close friends. Max was the ring bearer and was very proud of the role. He now had a real dad who adored him and had officially adopted him.
Olivia had moved in with her beloved Dominic six months ago. Their relationship was developing seriously, and they were planning a wedding for the fall. He fit perfectly into their circle of friends and quickly befriended Max.
And Elias and Maya had a daughter, Eva, long-awaited and much loved. Max was delighted with his role as a big brother and constantly brought his toys to the baby. «Uncle Elias, when Eva grows up, will she play with cars?» he asked.
«Maybe, or maybe with dolls,» Elias replied.
«Then I’ll buy her a doll too.»
The Parkside Boulevard project was successfully completed. Olivia and Elias received a new commission designing a children’s center. Maya joked that it was destiny. Celeste adapted perfectly at her job and even received a promotion. She was now the head bookkeeper. Max was in the preparatory group at the same center and was very proud that his mom worked there.
At three o’clock, the guests arrived: Celeste with Max and Jordan, and Olivia with Dominic. Max immediately ran to the crib to see Eva.
«She grew!» he reported admiringly. «And she’s smiling for real now.»
«Of course, she’s three months already,» Maya explained.
«And when will she start walking?»
«Not yet. First, she’ll learn to sit, then to crawl.»
«I’ll teach her everything.»
At the table, they recalled the past year—funny and touching moments, the difficulties they overcame, the joys they shared.
«And remember how Maya followed me?» Olivia laughed.
«How could I forget?» Maya blushed. «I’m still embarrassed.»
«There’s no need to be,» Dominic said. «Any woman in your place would have worried.»
«The main thing is that everything ended well,» Elias summed up.
«More than well,» Celeste added. «Now we all have a new family.»
«And I have lots of friends,» Max announced importantly. «Mommy Celeste, Daddy Jordan, Auntie Maya, Uncle Elias, Auntie Olivia, and Uncle Dominic.»
«And little friend Eva,» Elias added.
«Yes, the best company in the world!»
Maya looked at these people, so different, yet so close. A year ago, she was afraid of losing her husband to his ex-wife, and now Olivia had become one of her best friends. Celeste was a loyal friend and colleague, Dominic a wise counselor, Max a beloved nephew, and Jordan fit perfectly into their company.
All her fears and suspicions turned out to be baseless. Elias loved her. He was a faithful husband and a wonderful father. And his kindness toward the people that had once scared her now only strengthened her love for him.
«To our great company,» Olivia proposed a toast.
«To friendship,» Elias seconded.
«To happiness,» Celeste added.
«To everything being all right!» Max finished, raising his glass of juice.
Everyone raised their glasses, and Maya thought she had never had a happier moment in her life. It was all because they had learned to trust each other and not be afraid to open their hearts to new people. Little Eva woke up in her crib and cooed softly, as if she too was happy for the party.
Max immediately ran over to her. «Hello! Look how many friends you have.»
And Maya understood that their family secret turned out not to be a secret at all, but the secret of true happiness: the ability to forgive, trust, and welcome good people into your life, no matter where they came from.
A few months later, Olivia and Dominic got married. Max was the guest of honor, and little Eva was the youngest participant in the celebration. A year later, Olivia and Dominic had a son, whom they named Julian. Max was delighted with the appearance of another little brother, and Eva got a playmate. Their great company continued to grow, filling up with new joys, new traditions, and new love.
Maya thanked fate every day that her silly suspicions hadn’t destroyed the happiness that awaited them all. Sometimes, looking at this close-knit group, she thought, what if on that very first day I had simply walked up to Elias and asked him directly? How much torment and fear could have been avoided? But then she understood. Perhaps those very trials made their family so strong and united, because now there were no secrets or distrust between them. They knew they could rely on each other in any situation. And most importantly, they knew that true love is not afraid of the truth but is only strengthened by it.
