ia's

at three in the morning, l

the front door, the livin

edo jacket tossed aside, shirt collar

s voice was lo

s and lined them up nea

Gray. I'd like

coffee table. "My colleagues saw the girl I adopted bussing tables there like a servan

eal life," I said evenly. "

is feet, looming over me. "Starting after Sunday's wedding, your

," I

ce caught h

an argument, for tears, for anot

rs stiff, he turned a

rred past in a whirl

ent me dozens of photos - the venue, the floral ar

open a si

the grand staircase fastening his cufflinks, on his way out to

y," I sa

brow instantly knitting with w

re here to sabot

nty-first birthday.

guilt crossed his eyes, then

edding day, Ameli

Just sixty minutes in the early morning, before you put

," he said coldly. "You just want that hour to

ly it was nearly inaudible. "I o

ver the jingle of the car keys in h

his watch, sighed im

Then you'll change into proper clothes and sit through the ce

you,"

ing arrived

shower, and changed into a simp

pot of hot Earl Grey. In the center I placed a small cupcake

n the m

n the m

n the

the m

the old grandfather cloc

he pot had l

till left before my flight - I pic

nected after

g, affected voice cam

Channing?

y syllable. "Did you really think he'd waste his wedding morning on a pathetic little orpha

I called

ll tell him you're still shamelessly throwing yourself at him. Do

a hun

d looked at the long-co

ruck a small flame, and l

yes and made

smooth, Channing Gray. And may you a

atched the thin ribbon of s

sealed white envelope, and s

llar cashier's check, along

Gr

the five million dollars you spent on my upbringing, edu

ven. Com

tions on y

lia J

pped out the front door, and got