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What row up in a place like this? She couldn’t begin to i out of a ht not have felt very comfortable for a kid Todd was an only child This was the kind of house that screamed out for bunches of kids Had he ever been lonely?

Todd returned with a tiny woe He was laden doith armfuls of books and portfolios She had two baskets with dozens of flowers in them

"Marina, this is Beatrice Beatrice, Marina is the bride’s sister"

"How lovely that the two of you are planning the wedding together," the other wolanced around at the furniture and turned to Todd "Perhaps soht this way"

"Can I get you solanced at the cart "Water, please, dear Bottled if you have it"

Marina filled a second glass with ice, grabbed a bottle of water and trailed after the room, she braced herself to be both i, too, because the dining rooh the table was currently set with only a dozen chairs Still, by the way it sat in the center of the roouess there were about eight or ten leaves that fit into it

Two hutches flanked leaded glass hile a long buffet sat in the center of the opposite wall There were four chandeliers and a fireplace

Todd set the books on the table, while Beatrice began to lay out dozens of flowers

"I understand the bride and groom have chosen their colors," she said as she clustered various blooreen will be lovely However, I have so a little different A twist on the ordinary For exaladiolus Not traditional, but they look beautiful"

Marina wasn’t into plants or flowers, but as she knehat tulips looked like, she could figure out the gladiolus by default The green petals were aly lush and the color was perfect next to the deep pink of the tulips

"They’re gorgeous," she murmured, then looked at Todd "What do you think?"

"Nice"

She sirly stuff?"

"I’m not into flowers This see display "Here we have broain, not traditional, but the colors are perfect and these arrange table"

She handed Marina a ball of flowers in a yellowish shade of green "Chrysanthe froreen berries at Todd "Hypericuht out more and more flowers until Marina couldn’t hold anymore Todd was equally laden down

Then Beatrice turned to the books "I have pictures fros We’ll look at the the different flower possibilities

"You said there would be a separate room for the ceremony?" she asked

Marina nodded "There’s a perfect roo, so that space will need flowers, as well"

Beatrice began to talk about what they could do, but suddenly Marina found it difficult to listen She felt hot and flushed, although at the same time, she felt a chill Her stomach had taken a turn for the uncomfortable, as well It see

Cautiously she put down the flowers She’d never been allergic to anything before, butto her

Todd looked at her "Are you all right?"

Her sto she was about to throw up

"Not really," she said, interrupting Beatrice midex-planation "Is there a bathroom nearby?"

"Sure" He put down his arht back," he told the florist and led Marina out of the rooant hall she was in no shape to appreciate, was a spacious guest bath

"It’s "

"Don’t worry about it I’ll handle Beatrice"

Despite the suddenly twisting sensation in her stoed a so ahead and try"

"Come out when you feel better"

"Sure I’ll probably just be a minute"

She closed the bathrooed for the toilet

Marina had no idea how much time had passed She’d already thrown up twice and had a bad feeling she wasn’t done She felt shaky and weak, hot and cold, and a distinct longing to never feel this horrible ever again

She sat on the marble floor, her eyes closed and wondered if she had the strength to drive herself home The task seemed impossible on a couple of different levels First, she doubted she could ain Second, she couldn’t see but how miserable she felt

There was a knock on the bathroonized Todd’s voice Why had this had to happen here of all places? With him around?

"Yeah?"

"How’s your sto"

"I can Food poisoning All those crearoaned "You, too?"

"You bet I got rid of Beatrice Couest rooms The bathrooms are more comfortable and you can crawl into a bed between events"

She hesitated for a second, then staggered to her feet Stretching out on a bed sounded really good right now

She opened the bathroom door and saw Todd looked about as bad as she felt He was pale, slightly green and there were shadows under his eyes

"Aren’t we an attractive couple," she murmured as he took her hand and pulled her toward the stairs