“Mr. Hoffman remembered! He’s on his way!” 

Nicole’s spirits soared, and she flipped the piano lid back open, her playing innocent and relentless. 

“Dad says I’m clever for learning ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’! He’ll be so surprised!” 

Nicole could not stop chattering about it, her face beaming. 

Thirty minutes later, the doorbell chimed. 

Nicole scampered to the door and leaped into Simon’s arms. 

“Daddy!” 

However, there was Ella, right by Simon, and a whole posse of high-society types trailing behind them. 

“What’s with the extra kid at Hoffman’s future wedding home?” 

“Why hasn’t anyone kicked this woman out yet?” 

“Talk about a jinx…”