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"It’s mini-Merit!" she said, and pulled hers out of a second box Same flowers, smaller size

"Can I see now?" I asked, holding the flowers obediently in front of rave;!" Lindsey said, and rotated the chair

I stared

My makeup was, just as Lindsey had said, soft and ro and just the right shade of warm pink, my pale cheeks prettily flushed My eyelashes looked a et that secret fro a little bit antique in the look--a softened version of a movie star’s makeup from the forties

She’d found the same balance with ed it in an elegant loose knot at the back of my neck Delicate white flowers that matched my bouquet were pinned into the top of the knot

"It’s a back at her "Seriously--you could do this professionally"

She winked "One of my many talents And I did, for a very brief time in the forties So many pin curls and pompadours"

That explained that

• • •

Harold Washington Library sat heavily in the e held inside It atched froed by a sharp crown of the saal

I’d stepped off that railing once upon a ti ed

There were guards outside the building, along with a few dozen humans with smiles and cameras and CONGRATULATIONS! posters They screamed as alked toward the door, and I offered a quick wave between very tall security agents as ere shuffled inside Ethan hadn’t spared any expense with the security

Heels clicking on stone floors, ere escorted to an elevator, which rose slowly and quietly to the Winter Garden that topped the building The doors opened, revealing Jeff and Catcher standing in front of the doors that led into the space where we’d hold the ceremony

"You look beautiful, Merit," Jeff said as Shaythe moment "Like a Final Fantasy character come to life"

"Thank you, I think"

"Aher clutch under her arave me a final look She scanned hair,with approval "This House is clean," she said