se did not sleep in th

. No shouting. No

o the guest room after din

t felt t

kept echoing

ose out of emotion. The

mi

he ti

e conv

he somet

liar bed, staring at her reflecti

oming?" she whis

ne buzz

wasn't an un

her m

ted before

o, Mu

warm but worried voice ca

trength into her

n't sou

ed. Mothers

the news" her mother continued

them talk. They

"But you must ask yourself, ca

closed h

mistake?" she

as a lo

or wrong," her mother said gently

ess for

ight of wha

call, Cynthia felt

came at the g

dn't a

ock. Firme

nth

ick's

ut didn't o

asked thro

the

ed sp

pa

rgue, please" he sa

hesitation, she

s presence filling th

rooms" he

es

hy

arms. "Because I

ut A

every

owly. "Ask m

im directly. "D

led, but she could see ca

ut her" he s

ot the sa

he ag

ser. "Then what

ke she had asked so

wly, "is not noise

lled togethe

ay, protect

ke business," s

"Everything in my life requi

ead. "That's no

u see it?"

y. It's not timing.

ietly, "you calculated

word

ent s

I

tinued. "Security. Opportuni

I don't have feel

ot say y

lled the r

ehind her eyes but ref

your expansion plan

d then, something sha

marriage to expand

dn't r

reducing the dist

g" he said quietly, "it

ause it

plied withou

y hurt more

bitterly.

enge me" h

not ro

t a roma

t tighte

are we?"

her gaze

ple who entered

ement made he

ent," he continued, voice softer

rched h

know?" she

disorder" he said quietly.

blin

pposed to

is t

away, breat

ay sweet thi

N

t promise

N

even say yo

n't re

e stretche

cracked

aid softly. "

ow. Close enough that sh

I am not ready to de

is war?"

lied, "is res

n her cheek before

not

ifted his hand and wipe

gentle, unexpe

ngs" he said softly. "If I tell you I love you, it

hing beca

ou ready?"

t her for a

etting

a fairyt

't pass

sn't empt

ck slightly,

efore you get th

ghtly. "Then I will n

settled be

, not poeti

ked past him and back t

n't st

hed the doorw

edr

es

eement... then und

age. I am a person. And if you h

dded

is f

e room, leaving the

not fully secure.

wedding plans began, both of th

ot just ab

t about

t about

e who think differently decide to build som

yet knew who would p