After the guests were sent home, Sadie refused to let anyone take away the small gray suitcase she had brought from foster care. She sat on the edge of the bed with both hands around its handle, still wearing the sweater that had been soaked at the party.

One year later.

The beach in front of the house was decorated with bright colorful balloons, long wooden picnic tables, and paper lanterns swaying gently in the evening breeze.

It was Sadie’s seventh birthday.

The yard was filled with children’s laughter—classmates from her new elementary school, neighbors, and friends who had come to celebrate. A large birthday cake shaped like a sea turtle sat in the center of the main table, glowing with seven lit candles.

Sadie stood at the head of the table wearing a crown of fresh daisies, her face radiant with pure, unburdened joy.

“Make a wish, Sadie!” Marcus called out from behind a camera, snapping pictures of the crowd.

Sadie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and blew out all seven candles in one go. The entire crowd cheered and clapped.

After the cake was served and the children ran down to the water’s edge to play tag in the soft sand, Sadie walked over to where Caleb was sitting on a driftwood bench near the shoreline.

She held a small framed drawing in her hands, holding it behind her back with a shy smile.

“I made something for you, Daddy,” Sadie whispered.

Caleb set his glass down and smiled warmly. “Can I see it?”

Sadie held out the frame.

Inside was a colorful watercolor painting. It showed a bright golden beach under a huge blue sky. In the center were two figures holding hands—a tall man and a small girl with a daisy crown. Floating in the soft white clouds above them was the light, beautiful painting of a woman with long dark hair, smiling down at them with open arms.

At the bottom of the paper, written in Sadie’s neat, early handwriting, were the words:

My Happy Family.

Caleb looked at the painting for a long moment, a single tear of pure joy slipping down his cheek.

He pulled Sadie into his arms, lifting her up and holding her close against his heart as the sun began its slow, golden descent below the Pacific horizon, painting the sky in breathtaking shades of rose, gold, and purple.