THE EMPTY CHAIR AT HER SISTER’S WEDDING WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVE HER FIANCÉ HAD LEFT HER—BUT WHEN A QUIET STRANGER SAT BESIDE HER, KORA NEVER IMAGINED HE OWNED THE HOTEL, OR THAT HIS FAMILY WAS ALREADY PLANNING THE MARRIAGE THAT COULD DESTROY THEM BOTH
Her mother, Margaret, stood near the bar talking to an older man Kora did not know, wearing sensible shoes even at a wedding, deciding to be cheerful because public cheerfulness had always been one of Margaret Whitfield’s forms of service.
Then, from the edge of all of it, a man crossed the floor toward Kora.
