Already cracking. Already falling apart. She turned toward the butler with one last thread of decorum holding her together, nodding gently.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice already breaking as he gave a final bow and disappeared with silent efficiency, closing the door behind him with a quiet click that sounded like the breaking of a dam.
The moment she was alone with them, her people, she moved, no longer caring for grace or poise, no longer needing to pretend.
She let the sob burst out of her as she rushed forward, her limbs trembling, and threw herself into her mother’s arms, the tears escaping now in uncontrollable waves. Her mother let out a choked cry, gathering her up like she used to when River was a child with scraped knees and nightmares, and her father leaned in, his st
