The morning of the wedding, the sky was pale blue and cloudless.Nerissa stood in front of the mirror in her childhood bedroom, her mother behind her, adjusting the hem of her dress. It was not white. It was cream—soft, simple, flowing. She had chosen it because it reminded her of the beach at sunrise.Evelyn's hands were steady. Her voice was not."You look beautiful," she said.Nerissa watched her mother's reflection. "Mama, are you crying?""No." Evelyn wiped her eye. "I am just... happy. Finally."Nerissa took her mother's hand and squeezed it.Maya burst through the door, her flower girl dress already wrinkled, her hair half pinned. "Mama! I am ready!"Nerissa laughed. "Your hair is not ready.""Grandma will fix it." Maya climbed onto the bed and presented her head to Evelyn. "Hurry, Grandma. I have to scatter flowers."Evelyn smiled and began pinning.The ceremony was on the beach.Chairs had been set in rows on the sand. A simpl
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