Chapter 38

They found refuge on the benches around a small fire pit no one else was occupying. They weren't distant enough from the other guests to avoid the stares from the closest ones, but at least they had peace here instead of Anna's theatrics and constant scheming.

"It must have been hard growing up with your sister. I didn't notice she was like this when I met her before, but it's clear now that she's really something."

Beth looked to Daniel as the sparks floated up from the fire pit into the sky. So he was the one breaking the silence first. She had been trying to work up the nerve and the energy to say what she should say to him after all the misleading things Anna had said for everyone's viewing delight, but there was no need for it after all.

"Thank you," said Beth. "I didn't think she would go that far just to spite me when she should be busy helping host her future father-in-law's birthday. She's made an idiot out of both me and herself."

"Not you. No one with a brain would have fal