The next morning Livia got up early, took a shower, and loaded her dress--an authentic roman stola--into her car. She drove over to the Tullian home.

Alia opened the door before she knocked. “Quiet, Prudence and Verity are still sleeping.”

They passed through the formal atrium and through into the original house. There was a small fire burning in the front room. The kitchen counter was a mess but it smelled like fresh bread. They walked past an open eating area with a dining room table. Then they turned down a hallway and opened the first door. There was a long set of steps. They tip-toed downstairs and locked themselves into Alia’s room. “How are you, Liv? You looked stressed.”

Livia rubbed her eyes. “Didn’t sleep much.”

Alia nodded. “Nervous?”

“Yeah, I’m hoping I don’t mess everything up.”

“You’ll be fine,” Alia reassured her. “Also, l will still like you even if you make a mistake.”

Livia looked at her surprised. “Thank you.”

Alia grabbed a hairdryer. “Okay, Dry your hair, real fast. I’m going to ask Epiphany to come help.”

Ten minutes later Livia had her hair dry and opened the door to find Alia. She was in the bathroom helping Epiphany hairspray her hair.

Alia gestured her over. “Your turn.”

Livia came and sat on a stool while both Alia and Epiphany took a curling iron to her hair at the same time.

Livia heard Melanie’s voice outside the bathroom. “Verity! Prudence! Time to wake up. Mom wants you upstairs!”

Alia and Epiphany were silent as they worked. Livia watched in amazement as they pinned and curled her hair into the same elaborate style that Epiphany wore. In twenty minutes her hair was perfect.

“You are so fast,” Livia said.

“We have practice,” Epiphany said. “Let’s do your makeup. It doesn’t need to be fancy but you don’t want to look shiny in the pictures.”

“Thank you,” Livia said. “There’s no way I could have done this on my own.”

“How’s Caecilia this morning?” Alia asked.

“She seemed okay,” Livia said. “She was drinking tea and keeping it down pretty well--”

“That’s good news,” Epiphany said, and she dabbed foundation on Livia’s cheeks. “Mom and Dad have been worried about her. She’s under too much stress.”

“Is she?” Livia asked.

“Yeah, Gaius isn’t doing his job and so Hyrum and Caecilia have to do emergency management all the time. It’s bad.”

“It’s not good for the baby to be under that much pressure constantly,” Alia said, “My mom lost her last baby that way.”

Livia gasped. “Oh, no.”

“It was four years ago,” Epiphany said. “Twelve weeks along.”

“That’s why they built the addition--” Livia said.

“Mom has been a lot healthier with dad around more,” Alia said. “It’s been good for everyone but especially Corvin.”

“Is he still asleep?” Livia asked.

“I don’t think he’s here yet,” Epiphany said. “If he is, he’ll be upstairs helping mom with the girls.”

“He’s not here?” Livia asked puzzled.

“He sleeps at his townhouse,” Epiphany said. “But he’s here a lot of the time still. Sometimes when mom needs a break we pack up and head over there to hang out.”

“Is...your mom...unwell?” Livia asked.

Epiphany hesitated. “She’s had health challenges since she miscarried. She’s resolved all her physical issues currently but hasn’t had the chance to catch up emotionally...if that makes sense?”

Livia nodded.

Epiphany stepped back and smiled. “Your makeup is done.”

“Alright,” Alia said. “Go get dressed. We’ll be upstairs. Come up.”

Livia got dressed and went up to the kitchen. Corvin was coaxing his little sisters Prudence and Verity to eat breakfast. Their hair was done in adorable pigtails but they were still in their PJs. They were squirrely, giggling, and trying to balance their cereal spoons on the tip of their noses.

“Girls,” Corvin said, sternly. “You got three seconds to use those or I will eat your cereal all up.”

This caused them to jump to the business of eating again.

“Livia, did you eat?” Aurelia asked as she bustled around the kitchen. She was stacking boxes of rolls on the counter.

Livia had not eaten. “I’m fine.”

Epiphany turned on her. “Eat. You’ll need the energy to focus.”

Corvin reached over to the back of the counter and grabbed some bananas. He held them up. “Want one? We also got cereal, toast, waffles, bagels, and cream cheese.”

“Bagel, please,” she asked, accepting a banana and peeling it.

“Verity,” Corvin glared at his little sister.

She took her spoon off her nose and smiled innocently at him.

“We don’t have time, hun, eat. We’ll play this afternoon.”

“You won’t be too busy?”

“No.”

“Swear it!” she said, dramatically.

“I swear.” Corvin leaned across the counter and crossed pinkies with her.

Verity took a big bite with her spoon, newly motivated. Corvin went to the pantry and came back out with a bag of bagels. Epiphany brought Livia a tub of cream cheese. Corvin made the girls clean up their bowls and ordered them downstairs to change.

Corvin looked at Livia. “How are you this morning, Liv?”

“I’m well.”

He smiled. “You look beautiful.”

Livia looked away as butterflies erupted in her stomach. “Alia and Epiphany did the hair and makeup.”

Corvin tried to catch her eye again but Lars and Aurelia walked into the kitchen.

“Livia, may I speak with you?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” she answered.

Aurelia smiled. “Do you have your palla?”

The palla was a long but narrow rectangular fabric that was worn like a shawl. Livia went over to the couch and picked it up from where she’d laid it. “It’s here.”

“Let me show you how to wear it,” Aurelia said.

“Don’t I wear it over my shoulders?” Livia asked.

They were interrupted when Lars spoke. “Corvin, Epiphany follow me to my office. Verity, Prudence,” Lars addressed his younger daughters with firmness. “Go downstairs and change into your tunics and sandals. If I hear that you’ve caused any trouble for your mother I’ll be assigning extra chores, understand?”

Both girls nodded solemnly.

Lars smiled. “When you’ve gotten ready come join us in my office. So your mother can help Melanie and Alia finish getting ready.”

The two youngest scampered off and Epiphany and Corvin followed Lars out of the room.

Aurelia called Livia’s attention again. She explained the palla was placed over the left shoulder, pulled under the right arm, and draped over the left forearm.

Livia frowned as they arranged the garment over her correctly. “Seems strange.”

“Yes, but it allows your right arm to be free for the ceremony,” Aurelia said. “Also, I do not know if Corvin or Gaius explained that before you perform the ritual you must pull the palla up to cover your head?”

Livia shook her head. “No.”

Aurelia gave Livia a reassuring smile. “Let me show you how and we’ll practice.”

Aurelia showed Livia the way to pull the palla over her head. Then requested her to recite the Latin she’d memorized the previous day. After she finished, Aurelia insisted Livia practice several more times. Satisfied, she placed her hands on Livia’s shoulders and looked into her eyes. “I’m so proud of you, Livia. You will do fine.”

Livia nodded, surprised at the supportive words. In her experience, this kind of kindness was rare. At that moment, she recognized the characteristic goodness that Livia admired in Corvin. He had inherited some of it from his mother.

“Thank you,” Livia said, touched.

Aurelia left to help Alia do Melanie’s hair and told Livia to make herself at home. Livia sat alone on the couch in front of the fireplace, wondering why she needed to stay longer. She should tell Corvin she was leaving but she didn’t know if she was allowed to interrupt his meeting with Lars. So, Livia sat awkwardly in the silence and looked around. Picture frames full of cameo family photos instead of formal poses intrigued Livia. She walked across the room to study several on the mantel. Corvin openly laughed in one photo, which made Livia smile. Then a sense of sadness filled her as she realized she had never personally seen him look that happy. The laughter she heard was always laced with a wry cynicism. That was something they both had in common, though. Livia wasn’t an optimist.

She wondered suddenly did people feel sad that her happiness was always diluted with pessimism? It made her pause to reflect on it. She’d come a long way over the past two years but maybe she had more work to do with herself.

“What are you thinking?” a voice asked.

Livia gasped and almost dropped the picture frame she held in her hands. Corvin stood so near that Livia was surprised she hadn’t heard him approach.

“I was going to come to tell you that I was leaving,” Livia said.

“Why?” Corvin asked.

Livia blinked. “Why would I stay?”

“Come in the car with us. It will be simpler to go together. The parking and traffic will be insane,” Corvin said. “I don’t want you to get lost in the crowds and not make it to the parade.”

Livia frowned. “You mean you want to make sure I don’t run away.”

Corvin grinned. “Do you still feel like accidentally getting lost?”

Livia sighed. “I’m resigned to my fate now.”

He reached out and took the picture frame from her hands. “Which one is this? Ah, I remember. I was so young.” He shook his head and placed it back on the mantle. “Why did it make you sad?”

“Did I look sad?” Livia asked.

“Yes.”

“I wondered why you never look that carefree anymore,” Livia said.

“Life happens, doesn’t it?” Corvin mused.

“Well, I don’t think I’ve ever looked that carefree,” Livia said. “So, I’m not trying to judge.”

“I didn’t take it that way,” Corvin said. “Life has happened to you too.”

“I also wondered...if it’s ever possible to go the other way. Could I let go of...my cares...be happier someday?”

“Are you unhappy, Liv?” Corvin asked.

“Less unhappy than last year,” she answered, honestly. “Are you happy Corvin?”

“Sometimes,” he answered. “I think that’s okay, Liv. We don’t have to be happy all the time as long as we’re headed in the right direction.”

Livia nodded. Her heart lightened a bit. “I think I have that. I think I’m headed in the right direction, Corvin. Are you?”

Corvin frowned. “Honestly, Liv? I feel a little lost. Not sure what my next step should be. But my relationships with my family members are better than they have been for years. So, that makes me hopeful that things will work themselves out one way or another.”

“Seems like things are never good all at once, doesn’t it?” Livia asked.

Corvin nodded. “Sometimes it does feel that way.”

“There was this lady who I stayed with when I was young,” Livia said. “Gave me the most comforting advice I’ve ever gotten. She said, ‘Things always change. If you’re unhappy, it will change. If you’re happy, it will change.' She said if the change was hard to deal with right now then that would change too because people get good at things that are hard to do and so they become easier.”

“That was comforting?” Corvin asked.

“Yeah,” Livia said. Then she laughed. “Arik reacted that way too.”

“What way?” Corvin asked.

“Didn’t understand why it was comforting--”

“You’re resilient, Livia. I might not think it’s comforting but it sure makes me admire your strength and grit.”

Livia looked at him in surprise. “Oh,” she laughed, awkwardly. “Didn’t expect that.”

Corvin suppressed a smile. “Arik needed to use his words more. There are lots of things to admire about you, Liv.”

Livia blushed and look away. “I-I admire a lot about you too, Corvin.”

“Like?” he drawled.

“Like you need my compliments?” Livia muttered.

“Well, I was under the assumption that you hated me for most of the semester so...what exactly changed your mind?”

“I admire how compassionate and kind you are,” she said.

Corvin made a face. “People take advantage of that.”

“That means something is wrong with them, not with you,” Livia said.

It was Corvin’s turn to look surprised.

“Anyway, even when I hated you I admired your work ethic.”

“Did you? That is not usually what I get admired for…” Corvin mused.

“Apparently,” Livia said, a tad sarcastically. “I can’t even admire you the right way--”

Corvin laughed, again with that undertone of cynicism. “I don’t mean you’re doing it wrong. I mean, no one ever gives me credit for that. I like that someone noticed.”

“I had this conversation with Tavian. No one gets respect for working hard in this town,” Livia said.

Corvin looked thoughtful. “Maybe you’re right? Funny, I kind of resent it too. But no one has ever validated that for me before. Interesting. It’s really that different outside Caesarea?”

“Absolutely.”

“Hmm,” Corvin's eyes drifted away from her and he appeared lost in thought.

“What do people usually admire about you?” Livia asked.

Corvin’s eyes shot back to her. A look of mischief crossed his place. He changed his stance so that he leaned against the mantle and closer toward Livia. “Certainly, you can guess?”

Livia rolled her eyes and stepped away from him. “No, thank you.”

He laughed and there was a less sardonic quality to it. Livia liked that. Corvin played offended. “You didn’t fall for my trap!”

“Someone so accomplished doesn’t need their ego inflated.”

“Oh, ho!” Corvin teased her. “You’re back to insulting me. Our pax has ceased.”

“Be prepared,” Livia said, wryly.

Corvin did a double-take. “Should I be worried?”

“Very,” Livia assured him.

“I can’t tell if you’re joking or not--”

“That’s to my advantage then.”

Corvin hesitated and then laughed again without the bitterness. His entire face lit up and Livia’s heart lightened. She liked seeing him happy. She couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across her face and her facade went up in smoke.

“You’re funny,” Corvin said as if it were a surprise. “I didn’t know that about you.”

“I’m insulted,” Livia drawled.

“You’re so quiet and shy I’ve never noticed.”

“You think I’m shy?” Livia asked.

“You are absolutely shy--” he said. “At least, around me. I’ve seen you loosen up around Cam and Tavian.”

She didn’t have a crush on Cam or Tavian. She shrugged it off, hoping he didn’t make the connection.

Corvin sighed. “Maybe one day, huh?”

“One day, what?” Livia asked.

“One day you’ll feel that at ease with me.”

“Maybe one day,” Livia agreed.

That wasn’t the response Corvin wanted. She could tell. She should feel guilty about that but she didn’t.

He changed the subject. “I came in here to let you know that Hortensius will be here in five minutes.”

“Hortensius?” Livia asked.

Corvin smiled, pleased. “He and Epiphany will be signing matched papers. You are invited to observe. We’ll leave for the parade directly after.”

Livia followed Corvin to the library where Epiphany stood bouncing on her toes next to her father. He spoke to her reassuringly with a file folder in his hand.

Aurelia, Mel, and Alia came in only a few moments after Corvin and Livia. Prudence and Verity were in a corner reading books. The doorbell rang and Lars went to answer it. The whole thing wasn’t very fancy. Hortensius entered with his parents and two siblings. They greeted Aurelia and Lars then the papers were laid out.

“Please, review the papers are correct, Hortensius,” Lars invited. While Hortensius looked over the papers Lars called to Verity and Prudence to leave their books and come over. Corvin’s family bunched up together to observe. Livia felt very conspicuous as the only person in the room standing alone.

“Livia is here?” Hortensius asked Epiphany.

“She came to take care of some business for the parade,” she answered.

“Oh. Liv,” Hortensius gestured her closer. “Come closer. Don’t stand over there.”

Livia stepped closer.

“Nice to see you. It’s been a while,” he said, easily.

She nodded. “It has. Congratulations.”

Hortensius grinned and looked at Epiphany. “I’m lucky, aren’t I?”

“You don’t get luckier,” Livia agreed, sincerely.

Epiphany shot her a surprised look, but a pleased pink flushed her cheeks.

Hortensius spoke, “Lars everything is in order with the papers. I’d like to sign them.”

Lars nodded. “We’ll go first then.”

Epiphany signed her name. Then Lars after her. Hortensius took up the pen and signed the paper and his father signed after him. Hortensius tried to kiss Epiphany and she ducked away.

“I--I’m sorry. We’re in front of all my sisters,” she seemed extremely embarrassed at her instinctive reaction.

Hortensius smiled. “Perhaps, a respectable peck on the cheek then?”

Epiphany nodded and offered her cheek.

Hortensius placed a polite kiss there and then put his arm around her. “I’m excited to start this new adventure with you.”

Epiphany nodded. “Me too.”

She seemed tense but relieved too. Livia wondered if she liked him or if it was one of those arranged political matches that Lupus house was notorious for arranging.

Then Epiphany peeked up at him shyly while he spoke a few words to Corvin and her infatuation revealed itself. Epiphany liked him. Livia grinned. She wished them well.