Justin had someone bring over a tablet, disying the full design and n for the wedding.

Edith bowed her head, studying the details on the screen.

To be honest, she wanted to say, “Let the Hawksley family make all the decisions.” But since Justin had already gone to the trouble of showing her, she felt she owed it a closer look.

Justin sat beside her, eyes drifting to the indentation in the sofa-the dip formed by the two of them sitting so close together.

Edith kept reading, a stray wisp of hair falling across her cheek. Without thinking, Justin gently tucked it behind her ear. “Finished?” he asked quietly. “Any thoughts? If there’s anything you want changed, we can have the designer fix it.”

Edith put the tablet down and shook her head. “No, it’s all wonderful-l have noints.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the room sank into afortable

silence.

She nced out at the garden. The sky had shifted so quickly-from dazzling color to a nket of heavy gray clouds.

A p of thunder crashed overhead, jarringly loud in the quiet.

Startled, Edith’s shoulders jerked. Justin noticed at once, his voice soft and reassuring: “It’s alright. Just thunder.”

But then, another rumble-this one louder, apanied by a sudden re of lightning on the horizon.

This time, Edith couldn’t contain herself; she let out a small cry. Thunderstorms had always terrified her.

When she was little, she’d gone to the amusement park with Kearney and Jayne on a day just like this-a stormy downpour, thunder rolling nonstop.

12:24

They’d been in a car ident on the way home. Kearney had lifted her from the wreckage, shoving her out to safety.

She’d clung to her doll, standing in the pouring rain, sobbing and calling for help.

Though everyone had survived, the memory had burned itself into her

mind.

Yearster, the day she heard about the ne crash, it was another thunderstorm just like this. Since then, Edith had developed a full-blown fear of stormy weather.

Even a single p of thunder left her shaken, convinced that when the sky turned this dark, something terrible was bound to happen.

Panicked and disoriented, she didn’t even realize she’d thrown herself into

Justin’s arms.

Justin sat frozen for a long, stunned moment, feeling her warmth pressed against his chest. Finally, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her

close.

He bent his head slightly, catching a faint trace of scent in her hair-soft, like blooming gardenias in early summer.

He tried tofort her, although his words came out awkward and uncertain. “It’s alright. Don’t be scared… don’t be scared…”

He wasn’t much good at soothing people-and the gentle, flustered look on his face was a far cry from his usual calm, collected self. There was something almost endearing about his difort.

Edith burrowed deeper into his chest, hands pressed over her ears, her shoulders trembling.

Justin frowned, ncing out at the storm-darkened sky. The oppressive ckness was enough to make anyone uneasy.

Suddenly, Edith’s phone chimed. It was Jayne calling.

Edith was in no state to answer, so Justin picked up for her.

12:24

“Hello, Mrs. Sumner. Yes, Edith’s here with me.”

Jayne’s voice was thick with worry. “Justin, you know Edith’s always been frightened of storms. It’s thundering and pouring out there-she must be a wreck. And the roads aren’t safe. I’lle pick her up.”

Justin hesitated for a moment before answering. “Mrs. Sumner, I really think Edith should stay at the Hawksley house tonight. The weather’s terrible, and it wouldn’t be safe for you to drive. Once the storm passes tomorrow, I’ll bring her home myself.”

Not wanting Jayne to worry, he made sure to reassure her. “Really, Mrs. Sumner, don’t worry-there are plenty of guest rooms here. I’ll have the staff prepare one for her.”

12:24)