Chapter 15
I stood before the table, studying the objects on the tray, not quite ready to touch them. There was a small, silver, lidded cup, embellished with a deeply etched pattern of vines that had darkened over generations, the tarnish so black that obviously even careful polishing couldn’t remove it. The pattern was reminiscent of the lace vine that twined across my gown, making me even more glad that I had chosen that detail. It seemed like, as I’d designed my dress, I had somehow connected to my mother, and her mother, and all of the Dragomir women who had used this vessel before me, over the course of hundreds of years.

And my ancestors had also used the silver knife that was placed next to the cup. And the spoon that held the pinch of pungent herbs, and the strips of bleached, cotton cloth folded beneath the blade…

Mom placed her hands on my shoulders again. I hadn’t even realized that she – and Mindy – had joined me at the table. I twisted a little to see her face. “Mom…?”

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to ask, though. I knew what I had to do.

Mom gave me a reassuring smile, and I drew some strength from how calm she looked. “You’re going to be fine,” she promised. Then she turned me so we were facing each other and pulled me to herself, squeezing me tightly. “I’m going to join the other guests now,” she said, stepping back, but taking my hands into hers, keeping us connected.

“Mom!” I objected, clutching at her fingers. “Don’t go yet!”

I wanted her to help me…

But Mom shook her head. “No, Antanasia. It’s time for me to go.”

I knew my mother well enough to understand that she had deliberately chosen this moment to leave – and purposely used my new name. She was reminding me that I was an adult now. My wedding was starting, and I would have a lot of difficult things to face in the future, without her to help me. It was time for me to start facing them…

“I know that it’s hard, but try not to be scared,” Mom added one last piece of advice. “You want to savor every moment of this night. It’s not about getting everything right – it’s about you and Lucius promising yourselves to each other. That’s all that matters.”

I took a deep breath, then agreed, “I know.”

“I love you,” she said, hugging me one more time.

“I love you, too,” I said softly.

Then Mom left Mindy and me without another word, because we’d said all the important things the night before.

When the door closed behind her, Mindy looked to me with wide, nervous eyes, like she wished that calm, competent Dr. Dara Packwood was still with us, too. “Um… what do I do, Jess?” she asked, eyes darting to look at the tray. “Do I… help you?”

I shook my head. “No. Just stay in the room in case something goes wrong.”

My maid of honor got a little pale, but she nodded. “Okay.”

Then Mindy, seeming to sense that I needed some space – a little privacy – retreated a few steps back, and I sat down at the table, and without giving myself any more time to hesitate, stretched my left arm across the tray and used my right hand to lift the knife.

Continue to chapter 16...