Anxious eyes caught the encouraging gesture from her husband-to-be and it was enough to provoke the familiar hot warmth in her eyes that warned of tears to come. "I-" she eked out, faltering abruptly at the end of the syllable. She made the fatal mistake of letting her eyes wander.
"I-" I have to do this. The blood was rushing in her ears.
"I-" it was barely a whisper. I will love him in time, in one way or another.
Ada was poised for another attempt, lips parted, eyes fixed now on the man she was supposed to be promising herself to.
Without thinking about it, her hand tightened around his. I will be happy as Mrs. Urquart. Saturday for no luck at all. Here is a kind, generous man who may love me one day and who I'm sure will do all he can to make me happy even if he doesn't. Saturday for no luck at all. This could be my last chance for happiness...
"I-" I can't. I can't let him down, I can't let everyone else down. What if they think I've been leading him astray? What if he thinks that? Just say the words now, do it.
"I can't-" a small voice blurted out. A look of horror descended upon her as she realized she'd spoken the wrong words. Ada opened her mouth to utter a retraction but found herself once again speechless. She hadn't spoken very loud but in the silence and horror at what she had said, it had felt like a shout.
"I-" I have to do this. The blood was rushing in her ears.
"I-" it was barely a whisper. I will love him in time, in one way or another.
Ada was poised for another attempt, lips parted, eyes fixed now on the man she was supposed to be promising herself to.
Without thinking about it, her hand tightened around his. I will be happy as Mrs. Urquart. Saturday for no luck at all. Here is a kind, generous man who may love me one day and who I'm sure will do all he can to make me happy even if he doesn't. Saturday for no luck at all. This could be my last chance for happiness...
"I-" I can't. I can't let him down, I can't let everyone else down. What if they think I've been leading him astray? What if he thinks that? Just say the words now, do it.
"I can't-" a small voice blurted out. A look of horror descended upon her as she realized she'd spoken the wrong words. Ada opened her mouth to utter a retraction but found herself once again speechless. She hadn't spoken very loud but in the silence and horror at what she had said, it had felt like a shout.
