Theo:
Any thoughts of having a quiet evening to myself flew out the window. Natalie stayed at my side, taking the seat to my right, her parents next to her and the other assembled guests filling the chairs. I knew all of them by sight and by name, family friends and business associates.
Kat and Lily were at the far end of the table. They had been slipped down the line based on social status, not necessarily a bad thing—if Kat had been next to me, the rumor mill would have spiraled out of control. I thought sending Kathleen and Lily to Paris on a shopping trip would be a nice gift, a way to thank them for coming all this way—instead it'd hurt her, pushing our past right back into her face.
Natalie continued to chat through the meal, noting the depth of mourning the country had fallen int
