o loud at our Na

th wedding ann

stood on the small stage,

omed, slick

ear, my lovely Ava h

by the grand fireplace, smi

er gown, a fortune in silk and

ding a young woman near the front, "we have a

ed Candace

er teens, wearing a red dress so tight

attern. A new woman

very year, al

, had pushed me i

psed. He got sick, real sick. T

gul from San Francisco. Mothe

dripping with something ugly. "Ava's gown t

yes flicking to my dre

touching his own throat, "the diamond necklace

was silent, watching.

eaching his eyes. "Why don't you give Candace

yes. But the necklace? It was his grandmot

hed over me, co

d. For my father's care. Fo

e me had finally, i

ed at

voice was quiet

"Julian, I w

nt through

y times. Ninety-nine ti

s the h

eant it with every

s head and laughed.

arling, you'r

. "She says this every

n it,

ough with it this time, I'll give you a seve

keep your dear father c

I was bluffing.

itement went th

table shouted, "I'll bet

thousand says she'

g bets on my lif

llowed tears, of bitte

rawn in that expensive hospi

ked face when she begg

ars," Julian sneered to the crow

voice cut thro

ake tha

yes t

stood near the

end from Chicago, from a

cessful. A world away from J

y at me, his expr

cus said, his voice calm and clea

kind of si

le faltered

something I hadn't felt in year

ad to be differ