Sora was giggling with Aiko over Imogen stealing food off their plates when a waiter approached their table carrying an ivory vase overflowing with flower blossoms.

"Miss Himura," the waiter asked, uncertain. The women shared a look. He must be a new one.

"Gallegos Himura or Himura-Misra?"

The sweating waiter was immediately alarmed. Poor guy.

"You can leave it with us, we'll figure it out."

Aiko zeroed in on the quality of the flowers at once. "Somebody's been good this year. Bluebells, calla lilies, and baby's breath. It's not red roses, but they're very well-cut." Aiko tipped her head. "So to speak."

Imogen took out her phone. "Let me look up what they mean."

"They're flowers, Imogen."

"Come on, Aunt Sora. I know you're into romance. What's more romantic than the language of flowers? Don't you wanna know somebody was trying to say?"

"Why Google when we can just read the card?" Aiko plucked it from among the blooms.

"Shouldn't we find out who they're for first?"

"We have two possible candidates. What better way to find out than reading the card?" Aiko did just that. She covered her mouth. "Aww. This must be for you." She handed the card to Sora.

Sora touched her chest. There was a small wallet-sized photo of Tommy, Dhiren, and Ravi.

'To you who have enriched our lives in every way. From sun-strewn afternoons to twilight matinees to pure unbridled motherly love. Happy Mother's Day, Sora.

Love, Your Boys

She squinted at the picture wondering just when they would have gotten together to take it. The duck! Tommy was holding his duck, only it didn't yet have his name stitched on the back. That must have been Valentine's Day. Ravi must have planned this.

"Wow."

"Looks like you've got some not-so-secret admirers." Sora ignored everything implied by Aiko's tone. She'd be hearing from Hana about it soon enough.

"I'm a lucky girl."

Imogen started to tear up. "You really are."

Sora put the note in her purse and reached for her suddenly tearful niece.

"Honey, why are you crying?"

Imogen fanned her eyes, trying to preserve her eyeliner. "Don't worry, they're happy tears. I guess I just miss the moms today. I need to send them Happy Mother's Day texts."

Aiko rubbed her shoulder. "You do that."

She raised a perplexed eyebrow at Sora who shrugged. Mood swings and increased appetite. Looks like the Himura-Misra branch of this family tree might be set to grow. Call it a feeling. That will be the best-dressed child Misra has ever seen. Sora would be the first to pick up a gift off the registry.

"Imogen, have you and my nephew talked about kids?"

"Not yet. It hasn't really come up."

Aiko took it from there.

"Maybe it's time it did."

...

...

On getting in her chauffeured car to return to Himura, Sora dialed '3' on her speed dial and got Ravi.

"Misra."

"A lovely bouquet was delivered to me at lunch today with a picture of three dashing men in it. I thought it must be my birthday, but my birthday isn't for another two weeks. Any idea who the mastermind of this little gift might be?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Likely story."

"It was worth a try. Do you know how inconvenient your birthday is? I couldn't decide if we should wait and skip Mother's Day or just celebrate twice."

"I don't need a party to celebrate my maternity. I've got the best gift I could have for that: Tommy."

"You deserve that party."

"What I deserve doesn't concern me; I'm too busy being grateful for what I already have."

"I'm going to get you to go dancing with me one of these days."

"One of these days, I'm going to let you."

"Happy Mother's Day, Sora Gallegos."

"It's been much happier than I anticipated."

"You shouldn't have doubted me. I told you. I don't make promises I can't keep anymore."

"I like this new you. You'd better not go anywhere."

"You have my word."

...

...

Sora placed the picture in a position of honor on her desk, right beside a photo of herself holding a newborn Tommy. This is my family. She wouldn't let anyone tell her otherwise.

She made it through the rest of her day, unimpeded by the drama that seemed to be overtaking her family at every turn. Tommy was happy. Dhiren and Ravi were happy. Her sisters were getting by. She wasn't about to take the lull for granted.

Her contentedness was only cemented by a text she received from Imogen:

To: Aunt S, Aunt A

You were right!!!! #BabyOnBoard

To: Imogen

Happy Mother's Day, sweetie.

Sora received in reply what could only be termed as celebratory keyboard smash. She decided not to ask.

There was one last minute logistics meeting that required Sora's presence, then she was off to enjoy an evening with a good book and a bubble bath to keep her occupied whilst Tommy spent the night at Sam's with Anthony. Company has its rewards, but there's nothing like the sound of silence to soothe the soul.

She'd thought she was off, at any rate.

Sora rose to greet her niece as the girl peeked into her office. Serves me right for sending Cristina home early.

"Yelena, is everything okay?"

The girl was obviously anxious. She was twisting her hands and trying to smile.

"Yeah, everything's okay." Yelena sighed and closed her eyes. "No, it's not. There's something wrong and I hope you can help me fix it."

"I can try. What is it?"

"You and Ravi."

Déjà vu. Sora seemed to spend more and more of her life discussing something that didn't exist. "Did your mother put you up to this?"

"No. She'd probably be upset if she knew I was here. She's been obsessing over the two of you for weeks. I keep telling her she doesn't have anything to worry about, but she won't believe me. Aiko doesn't seem convinced either. What's going on?"

Sora blew a lock of hair that had fallen into her eyes out of her face.

"Nothing's going on. I told Hana that there's nothing going on. Ravi and I are friends—good friends, close friends even, but only friends." Friends who almost kiss, sure.

"Has she had any reason to think there might be something more between you two?"

"I can't predict what Hana would consider a compelling sign of romance. She's my sister, but your mom is one of a kind."

"Very true." Yelena swept her bangs aside. "She's really upset." Aiko must have mentioned the bouquet.

"And I'm sorry for that. In spite of what's happened, I don't want to hurt her. I just don't have the capacity to fix what isn't broken. Ravi is my friend, maybe even my best friend since he came back. That's the truth."

"Are you positive there's nothing else?"

"Ravi and I spend a lot of time together, I can't say there's nothing. He's a handsome, loving guy; I'd have to be dead not to be attracted to him. That doesn't mean we're about to start some legendary love affair. I don't think that's in the cards for me."

Yelena started to look guilty. Why does everyone feel guilty when I'm supposedly the one to blame?

"Don't count yourself out. True love tends to knock when you've given up listening."

"Is this you giving me the benefit of your twenty-one year old wisdom?"

Yelena smiled, wistful. "If you ignore everything else I have to say, please think about this: If this whatever it is turns into something real...be honest with yourself. I know how hard it is to follow your heart when it's leading you someplace you're not sure you're ready to go. Take it from me, you'll be glad you went along with it."

Sora departed for home unsure what to make of the talk she'd had with her niece. Every so often, Yelena would show that there was more to her than the Gallegos blood thrumming in her veins. May she grow to be a better woman than all of us so far.