de Ci

a marriage certificate. Tiesto reached up, removed hi

a small, p

't planned to get married today.

raised an

to go back to my adoptive parents' house. My birth parents don't have much, and I do

families already bound by an old engagement,

y. "So marriage is jus

this arrangement causes trouble, we can end

ney had never mattered to him. Appeasing

own place soon

and a folded note Javi had delivered

o's phone number. The apartment described was mode

tly absorbing the reality that she was now marri

dn't s

.

Hart Family

waved as Ell

" she ca

and steady-smiled shyly. "Mom an

lla said. "L

a modest residential cluster-single-

food greeted her. Lucas was chopping chicken at the counter

ried over. "You're back. Com

se, handed her a bowl of cherries. Caleb, ever chee

e great!

ds were full. The warm

rrow kitchen, two bedrooms-one shared by the brothers with bunk beds, the other for t

Tight. B

o, she could leave without becoming a burden. Her parent

rying two plates

and Piper used to love them.

k a bite. "It taste

ked softly, "Should I b

"I don't think

head. "I don't

sappoint her mother. "

with you,"

ack to the vi

aling Piper, impatience w

"Next time, call first. Showing

ce soft and uncertain. "Mom asked u

the housekeeper had prepared an elaborate dinne

y, her tone carefully measured to sound polite.

"Mom made it esp

aid, finally reaching out. "T

er manicured fingers, careful not

nd before Nora might notice some

aniel saw her toss the chestnu

face fl

, tugging him aside. She'd exp

to Daniel and slipping the rest into her bag. Then she p

said. "Breakfas

on softening. Something like qui

the empty plate and let o

ay back inside. Somewhere along the walk, th

n I get your number? I'll add

. Caleb eagerly added he

ucas came in carrying a large pot of roaste

unced. "Set the ta

Soon the table was full-chicken, fish, shrimp

then. Rough. Calloused

est ti

onto her plate. Henry cracked the crab for her. Caleb

s if trying to make up for twen

eyes sh

urged, voices w

e table, Caleb swept the floor

t Lora caught her hand

ught over

fingers, her eyes stung. "You worked a lot

Ella replied gently. "

ds, her polished appearance, the w

she said firmly, "no one in this

three brothers

" Lora added. "This

od-they planned to sleep

Mom... did you forget

e filled w

oftly. "And I'm at the right age. I

he wed

to," Ella interrupted gently. "