n Flavia's phone ra

t let it go to voicemail, but so

avi

sound she had never heard from

pa is

patrick. The only man in that family who had treated her wit

ight down,

black dress she kept for emergencies-a habit fro

hotel. Eliseo's car

eering wheel so hard his knuckles were

the back. She sat i

her hand over his on the wh

sorry,

He let out a shuddering breath. He turned his hand o

y. The rain started to fall, drumming a r

p," Eliseo said quie

of water and handed it to him. He t

them," Eliseo sai

. His parents. His

ll handle them. You just focu

her profile was sharp, determined. She didn't look like

days, they weren't ene

. The florist. The security team. The catering. She i

she had organize

patrick Manor. The driveway was lined with ancient oa

Christmas tree. Cars were alrea

took a deep breath and put on a pair of

led her seatb

Thank you for coming. E

Her hand was on

re for

iseo extended his arm. It was a re

ction of a second. Then, s

ed up the steps and