Swallowing her bitterness, Lenora deflected. “I’ll be ready soon. Just a week more and it’ll all be settled. How are preparations going?”
“They’re going beautifully,” her mother said with joy. “Everything is falling into place. You’ll have a whole new life waiting.”
“About the ceremony—” Lenora began, but the sound of footsteps interrupted her.
Evan and Raymond entered the house, their strides halting as the last words of her conversation drifted to their ears.
“Mateship Ceremony?” they repeated together, disbelief lacing their voices.
