Chapter 17

By the time Elsie returned with Eva and Eve, the three women had converged in the living room. Dorothea was going on about how the design Kendra chose didn’t match the intended color theme for the wedding. Eve and Eva came running through the front doors, giggling, with hands wrapped tightly around paper bags filled with treats and snacks.

“Hi, everyone,” Eve said, throwing herself at Kendra, who was sitting on the long-armed sofa with Dorothea. Eva joined them. Unlike her sister, she hopped onto the sofa and moved inwards. Elizabeth watched quietly as both her nieces settled in across from her. She waited for Kendra to introduce them to her.

“Hello, everyone,” Eva said.

“Hey, babies, how was the fair?” Kendra asked.

“It was loads of fun. Eva and I won all these treats, and I got a stuffed goldfish.” Eve reached into her paper bag and pulled out a small, orange, fluffy goldfish. She waved it in front of Kendra and then turned to Dorothea and showed her as wel