contain her admonishment, she blurted out, "Fernanda, how could you be so violent to your sister?

que, which insinuated that her rural

felt a sting when he heard rural backgrounds spoken of with disdain

ud of frustration settling ov

e into the trash, and in my anger, I lashed

just a photo! What's the big deal? I got rid of it because it lo

me," Fernanda explained, turning to face Robert with earnest eyes. "I cheris

that for Robert, looking at her was like peering through a w

leaving Robert unsettled a

a just moments before had disappeared entirely. Now, a deep sense

nanda, I know you're upset, but lashing out isn't the answ

e with disbelief. How could Robert's voice turn so soft an

never hesitated to denou

ad

ze to her. "And you," he snapped. "What were you doing snooping around in your sister's

. A flicker of fear crossed her face, and she insti

plight with a mere few words. As she dwelled on the incident, a sense o

since Fernanda's return, Robert's attit

'd be grateful if we could find a suitable spot in the house to honor Hiram. I've always rega

ered sharply. "He was an outsider. How can

Michelle with a challenging stare. "Imagine the admiration we'd garner for our gratitu

irmatively. "It's only fair to honor this benevolent

up with a radiant sm

r flared. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, her em

ce as she threw herself onto her bed, overwhelmed by a sense of

ivered a package to Fernanda. Inside,

in the photo, Fernanda was env

photograph and lovingly placed it o

la had welcomed two additional gu

ess, with his gaze persistently fixed

a, openly manifesting her contempt and animosity t

nanda chose to distance herself fro

horizon, the evening air, warm yet pric

wandered to a convenience store a

open the can single-handedly. The refreshing ch

r of her shirt to shift delicately, exposi

rched gracefully, like someone relishing

can with a casual flick of her wrist, watching it

in the dim interior of a b

nion and remarked with a mix of awe and admira