Perrin’s fashion design friends, her new husband Bill’s Emerald City Opera companions, and both of their personal friends all jostled happily together, mingling one table to the next. It was a joyous event, laughter an ingredient more common than the regional wines or the amazing food. If she knew how, she would swirl down into the crowd and appear to be enjoying herself. But the artifice usually so readily at hand eluded her and she remained, standing among the flowers.
Perrin swirled by in Bill’s arms, laughing and shining with joy—a joy she had created in herself, despite her past.
Melanie found that the most surprising thing of all. She had always seen herself as too damaged to find a true relationship, yet Perrin’s past had been far worse than hers. Here she was, Perrin outshining t
