ELEANOR BENNETT LOOKED LIKE SHE HAD SEEN A GHOST
“Mrs. Bennett?”
Mom blinked.
“Oh.”
Then:
“Ethan. Hi.”
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
She absolutely wasn’t.
Her eyes went from his face—
to the corsage—
to his bow tie.
Then back.
“Sophie is almost ready.”
“I’m ready.”
Mom turned toward the stairs.
Her expression changed again.
“Come upstairs with me.”
“What?”
“One minute.”
“Mom, Ethan’s waiting.”
“I know.”
Ethan lifted the corsage proudly.
“I have this.”
I smiled.
“What flowers?”
“Rosemary.”
I paused.
“Rosemary?”
“The florist said it means remembering.”
He looked very pleased.
“And I remember promises.”
My smile softened.
Behind me—
Mom made a tiny sound.
When I looked at her, her eyes were wet.
“Mom?”
“Upstairs.”
This time—
she wasn’t asking.
