a P
the ballroom. This gaze reminded me of five years of charity galas learned to detect the ha
glittered with New Jersey's elite diamonds sparkling light, suspended bubbles in crystal, and wealth practically
y back, his touch spreading heat through the thin fabric
to his sturdy frame when I was able to spare
have noticed. After five years of marriage, I became somewhat fluent in readi
his lips brushing my ear. "This night is for
s the only thing that brought in half of these peo
a luminous cloud of light reflecting off polished armor. Nelson foll
r son's cheeks, turning with far less warmt
silk. "Thank you, Elizabeth. The Children's Hope Founda
cance before returning to my face. "The Gibsons just announced their daughter-in-la
ok a sip of champagne to h
is arm protectively around my
l perfection. "I was merely making conv
r looks promising, Michael. We should discuss i
oosening his bowtie
red lawns. "Five years, M
e him, his hands on my sho
e late ocean sky, the blue that made me fall for him after
this," he said. "
nds of IVF, and nothing. I'm so tired of appo
thed in the smell of expensive colog
won't. I didn't marry you for heirs, A
month, I had seen the way he had stared at his business p
if I can't give you children," I
circles. "My mother doesn't
She thinks everything deserves her vote-espe
in, the dim light striking fear in his eyes. "We'll face t
. Michael placed his lips again
e knows what in that wine glass and giving nothing away. Behind her back, Jessica--my sister--would
re jolted through me, workin
urted out. "I've had just a
ed my face. "E
s, not that carsick feeling I had all night courtesy of my supposed failings,
worn to love through everything, and told h
el leading the way toward the exit, Elizab
voice coated with honey and w
ing well," said
For a moment, absurdly, I wondered if she
t cold. "Jessica has been asking for you. She has been so ver
ison lay between us
er tomorrow,
society came to Elizabeth's lips. "The
ing my knuckles in comfort. I leaned my head against the window, gaz
ichael said in a soft voice again in
. But as we pulled into the estate, Elizabe
ould stick
linter-and that tomorrow, on my twenty-seventh birthday, I