a's

wed dress that smelled o

paper. Ivory silk, simple, with long sleeves and a row of tiny pearl buttons dow

his come fro

tarted on the buttons befor

e and something darker, like smoke. Every time I moved,

why the momen

ed, ready to be sullen. Then I came down, and her whole face emptied. He

off," s

fia

t's my mother's dress. Who said you could w

a was suddenly very b

dress, and for one second something raw crossed his face, gone so

he said quietly. "So

pure hatred and walked

nd Sofia in his only good shirt, swinging his feet, sneaking looks at the girl who ref

I had seen him put it there. That was th

ither side of the steps. The steps were slick with frost. Luca came around and

His palm was warm through the silk. It

gether. Milo he

ed. "Is he going

how to answe

dying fern on the sill. Judge Harlan was a heavy man with red cheeks who kept wiping his for

briefcase. Luca introduced him as Mr. Alvarez, the family l

She took our license, checked it and then kept glancing at her phone under

ny took fo

n mine the whole time like he was daring me to look away. When he took the ring from his po

e know my

oked at Luca's face and stopped. He cle

I was Mrs.

g hands. "I'll file this in the system this

" Luc

rs are slow this morning.

murmured something. Luca's ja

look at us. Milo wandered over and stood next to her. After a moment, without looking up, s

t thing. It made m

l window that looked out over t

id. "The license isn't filed yet

n my finger. It felt h

you l

me for a long moment. "Yes," he

to say to that. S

't tru

it that way for a while

onto the top of the steps. The wind had picked up, cold and

e. Blonde hair pinned up. A long camel coat. Sunglasses, even though the sky was

lookin

nd and gave me a small wave. Like we were friends

said. "Tha

flower shop. Higher. At the rooft

rough his hand on my back, a sudden

aid sharply. "

acked the glass d

s the steps, glittering, and something hot

e cold stone, and his arms wrapped around my head. I heard the bullet hit the ste

screamed

said against my ear.

car tearing away from the curb somewhe

. Ringing, a

heart was pounding against my back. Hi

self up on one arm

l. When I lifted them, they were red to the wrist. The

s. I couldn't tell