Engagement Ceremony

“I’ll be here, waiting for your call. If anything goes wrong—” Nora’s voice crackled through the phone speaker, tight and brittle with anxiety.

Maeve stood entirely alone on the sidewalk, the dry Nevada wind tugging at the hem of her coat. She stared straight ahead, her posture unyielding. “I know, Nora. I’ll call you as soon as I can. Don’t worry. I’ve got this handled.”

“Your father isn't exa