Page 45 of Rite of Unity

“It’s just lineage documentation.No blood.No needles.”The man’s voice was soothing now.

“Promise me she’ll be okay.”

“Elaine.”

The silence that followed was swallowed by my drumming heartbeat.I pressed against the wall, trying to calm my breathing.

“She’s in the shower.She’ll hear you.”

“Elaine.”

“Go.Lucen.”

The door clicked open and shut, and I exhaled.

I’d never heard her like that.Voice stripped of softness.

“Maryn?”Mama called from the living room.

I backed up several steps and then marched loudly down the hall.Peeking my head into the room, I rubbed the towel over my hair.“Mama?Did you call me?”

Her eyes were slightly wide, and I had to work to hide my own shock.

She blinked, moving to the kitchen.“Do you want tea before Paul and Vera arrive?”

“Sure.”I moved beside her, pulled cups down from the shelf, and watched her squat, hands trembling as she reached into the back of the cabinets.“Let me get it.”

“No.”She glanced up.“It’s all I have.”

I nodded, unsure if she was talking about the teapot or the hidden letter.

When she had poured our tea, wrapped her teapot safely back away, we sat, sipping in silence.

The door buzzed, and Mama jumped, nearly dropping her cup.She rubbed her hand over her temple.“I’ll take this to my room.”

She stood, slipping behind her door before I could say a word.

I lifted the cup to my lips, savoring the moment.There were things I wanted to ask her.

I set it down.

***

Somehow, I’d been expecting our next event to outdo the last, but it seemed they had run out of fancy houses to host Rite balls in the Upper-Middle.

Ruth waved to Josh, who grinned and waved back across the ballroom.

“He’s selected four matches,” Ruth said behind her hand, her blue ribbon catching the light.

I searched her face.

“Don’t look at me like that.You know how it goes.”She huffed.“You were lucky to be last.Not to have to watch each match selection on the Monday recap.They showed all three this week.Did you see?”

She looked away, scanning the room, not waiting for my reply.

“Ruth.”

Her gaze darted to me.“Go stand with the others,” she ordered, and I reached for her hand.