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He gazed war her hand in his

“It was strange at first I won’t lie to you about that We didn’t , and it had to be alone No family were allowed to be present It all felt so secret and exciting When I saw your ht choice”

Steph noticed that Elora was strangely quiet during this retelling Jerry finished his story with gusto

“We worked through the aardness of not knowing one another until we found that the things we had in coer love than any I could have hoped to find That’s all ant for you, Steph: a chance at a love with a good foundation and the right start”

“You mean financially,” Steph said

Jerry frowned “That’s a part of it, but I mean in all ways I think the man we’ve found is an exceptional person and will make a wonderful husband for you in every possible way”

Elora’s dark eyes landed on her daughter, then “Duty matters, Stephanie It’s i part of e are as women of El Farah You will find happiness, even if it isn’t there at the beginning”

Jerry cast his wife a curious glance at that statement, but he didn’t ask about it The conversation was finished, and the family finished their dinner in comfortable silence When their plates were clean, Steph helped her mother wash up

“Stephanie, there is a box in the attic I want you to find before we go,” Elora said, putting the last plate away in the cabinet “You’ll find a beautiful little hair accessory that I wore onday, and that o beautifully with your gown”

Elora told her where to find the box before sending her up to the attic on her own Steph pulled down the folded staircase and headed up the steps into the cool dark rooht on her phone to better see the space

She’d always been a little afraid of the attic There was nothing particularly exciting up there— around now, it was clear that he had been pulling her chain The room was tidy and clean, with several labeled boxes stacked around the roo her mother’s directions, Steph headed toward a corner of the roo”