I sat there for a long time, unable to speak or stop the tears-now of sadness-rolling down my cheeks. Meira held her own silence, just the quiet of the basement, the cool darkness soothing me as much as our mutual stillness.

With a hiccup, I finally used my well-worn sleeve to swipe the moisture from my face and nodded.

"This is just the betrothal ceremony," Meira said, as if that made some kind of difference. "The wedding won't happen until later."

"Nice of Dad ...