Rowena offered to help in her own way—practical, measured, and never intrusive. She asked what was needed and did things for her. Ashley was grateful to her indeed, but couldn’t help notice Rowena’s restraint. It did seem more a chore of duty on her part than one of love, and it hurt Ashley.
Bill met Ashley’s father and stepmother on a quiet, warm evening. It was supposed to be uncomplicated. Ashley expected mild nerves and polite conversation. Instead, almost immediately, she felt something shift beneath the surface, a subtle tension that didn’t belong, settling into the room before anyone even spoke much.