Chapter 2: What She Had Been Building
Ethan held on longer than I expected.
When he finally stepped back, his eyes were bright.
He looked at my uniform the way he used to when he was small — like it meant something.
Margaret's voice came from behind us.
"Ethan.
Your guests are arriving."
He didn't turn around immediately.
That small delay said everything.
"I know, Gran."
"Your mother can get settled inside.
You have responsibilities right now."
He looked at me.
I gave him a small nod.
Go.
I'm not going anywhere.
He went inside.
Margaret waited until the door closed.
"That was a lovely moment," she said.
"I hope you're satisfied."
"I'm just getting started."
Her expression shifted.
Something moved behind her eyes that I hadn't seen before.
Not anger.
Something closer to calculation.
"There are people inside tonight who matter to Ethan's future," she said quietly.
"Business contacts.
The right families.
I have spent months arranging this."
"Arranging what, exactly?"
She didn't answer directly.
"Just don't embarrass him."
Daniel touched my arm.
"Let's go inside."
I followed him up the steps.
But at the door, I stopped.
Because through the tall window to the left, I could see the guests already seated at the long table.
And at the far end, next to the chair clearly meant for Ethan, sat a young woman I had never seen before.
Margaret appeared at my shoulder.
"She's a lovely girl," she said softly.
"The Hargrove family.
Very established.
Ethan has known her for almost a year."
A year.
I turned slowly.
"How long have you been planning this?"
May you like
Margaret smiled for the first time all evening.
"Since you missed his seventeenth birthday, Claire."
