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“I knew I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Mabel patted his arm.

“You didn’t.”

“Nora did.”

Nora smiled without apology.

Wolf shook his head.

“You married into this.”

“I know.”

“And you’re smiling.”

“I know.”

The stairwell descended beneath the building.

Mace moved ahead of me.

Not because I needed help.

Because the staircase was narrow, dark, and unfamiliar.

He checked every landing before allowing me to follow.

At the bottom, he held out his hand.

I stared at it.

“What?”

“Last step is uneven.”

“I can see it.”

“I know.”

I placed my hand in his anyway.

He helped me down.

Then kept holding on.

I looked at our joined hands.

“You know I’m standing on solid ground now.”

“I know.”

“Are you planning to let go?”

“No.”

My heart stumbled.