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"You aren’t responsible," he said, accurately reading her thoughts "There was no way you could have foreseen such a thing"

"I appreciate you saying thather suddenly clammy hands down the fabric of her dress

"We can–"

"I’hed "I’ll coladly, feeling out of sorts Uneasy and wobbly Luke being here helped, and while on a personal level that er

Luke opened the door, and she turned to let him help her down, and blurted, before she could lose her nerve "Thank you I’, ave her one of those sexy smiles that made even the dread in her sto, he lifted her and set her on her feet, running his hand down her hair He did that a lot and she liked it way too et this over with so we can happily marry off Royce and Lauren"

"Yes," she said "Please I want to go back to Lauren’s fairytale land It’s nicer there"

He slid his hand down her arers with hers Silently, they fell into step and for the second tiood, so that was at odds hat she believed was in her future and even the grian to fall and Luke quickly pulled theood fifty-plus people in seats Sobs filled the air, and the rain picked up, the wind splattering it against the tent fabric The judge sat in the front row, but she didn’t recognize those close to hiot to Julie the most was the absence of a casket There was a much smaller finely etched wooden box that she assu to die, Elizabeth Moore

It wasn’t long before a an to speak Wind seemed to howl at the sa her de her, tightened Julie’s throat, and she felt the prickle of tears

Luke pulled her under his arm, and she happily took the shelter he offered The next fifteen minutes was a blur that felt endless

When the final prayer ended, the crowd scattered People went to the flowers in a center display for Elizabeth, while Julie clung to Luke’s ar at them

"You okay?" he whispered in her ear

She sed and nodded, turning to hi in the back of her eyes "I’one to a funeral before"