They knew each other's minds as well as they knew each other's hearts. On this night, they would be together. "Juliana—are you sure?" Stephen asked her when they were in his room, the door shut between them and the rest of the family. His hands massaged her upper arms gently. "Yes," she whispered. "I'm sure." "What about Eva? Aren't you roommates?" "Eva's probably asleep," Julie said. "She won't miss me." "The others?" "No one will know, Stephen, unless we want them to know." He accepted this. "I would like that," he said slowly. "I hope we will soon tell them that you'll be my wife." "I can't promise," Julie said. "You know I can't." "Ah, then we must cherish this night all the more," he said, drawing her close. "It must be special." "It already is," she said. He noticed the tightness in her voice. "Are you nervous?" he asked. "Or worried?" His eyes shone with concern. "Maybe a little." There was no point in lying to him; he'd know. "Don't be," he said. "There is no need." His hands caressed her shoulders, and her arms went around him, her fingers splaying over his smoothly muscled back.
