Only this time, Emma realized, the stares felt different.
They weren’t looking at her as an outsider anymore. They were looking at a woman who carried herself with quiet power, a woman whose love for her child was her crown.
Lucas squeezed her hand. “Mom, are we… making them nervous?”
She laughed softly. “Maybe. But that’s not our problem, is it?”
“Nope,” he said, grinning.
The night continued, and something unexpected happened. A man in his fifties approached Emma near the end of the gala. He introduced himself as Henry Alcott, a board member of a nonprofit that funded scholarships for single parents.
“I couldn’t help but notice how you’ve raised your son,” he said. “Would you be interested in speaking at one of our events? We’re always looking for stories that inspire.”
Emma hesitated for a moment. “I’ve never spoken in front of a big audience before.”
Henry smiled. “You just walked into a room full of strangers and held your head high. I think you’ll do fine.”
