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When I was very young, not even seven, I

think, I believed that ether all their lives I had seen pictures of them as children, of course, and seen pictures of them with their own parents, but none of that seeht that faraphs were like children's books, fairy tales and legends How could my parents have had a life before the life I knew? They were always here, i Daddy was always Daddy, firars, his footsteps heavy, loud on the stairs, his laughter resonant, manly Mother was always Mother, dainty, soft, full of smiles, redolent of perfuhter, feminine

Not until I was in to wonder about Mother's first day of her new life, her life with Daddy When she returned from her honeyer to explore every moment of her new identity? Or was she terrified that she haddecision?

Daddy didn't carry her over the threshold, I know She used to tease hi done that Belinda and I often heard hoas too busy ordering his servants, supervising the unloading of luggage I was sure she had entered the house first and stood there thinking, this is my neorld for better or for worse I ae to turn and run out

Samuel offered to carry me over the threshold, but I refused

"It's a silly tradition Ithim away

"Never say I didn't offer," he declared and stepped aside for me to enter our new home

Actually, I could have used some assistance by that ti weather for our honeys Sa at ports and going to fine restaurants, but instead of returning refreshed and exuberant, I foundworn and frazzled We had et more pleasurable for me, but he always seemed to enjoy it more than I did and that bothered me The day before the end of our honeymoon, ular as most women When I told him, he immediately said I shouldn't feel bad I didn't I wasn't co I actually felt relieved, but I let him be as solicitous as he wanted

I had a great deal of input into what our house would look like, of course Saestion I made, even when I insisted that we have separate bedroo doorway

"It will be like a romantic adventure every time I come to you, Olivia," he said e first considered the architect's plans that included my revisions "I'll knock softly and you can ask who's there? We'll pretend we'resecretly"

"I think we're both too old for ga, Samuel"

"Oh, you're never too old when it cohts off, as you like, and I'llsaw your litand then saw you gazing out," he said with a dashing smile

"Ridiculous," I said, but I did feel es that crossed my mind, especially a fantasy that involved Nelson Childs In ames and he came todoor and I turned off the light, not knowing until he was at my bedside that it was Nelson and not Sahed, snappingme, Samuel?"

"No Well,husbands do, Olivia"

"Not in this house and in this ain, but he saw the firrew serious