Chapter 27: Everything I Have

Linnea's POV

The ballroom looked the same, and that was the worst of it.

The same gold light, the same round tables with white cloths, the same dessert table by the same wall.

There was a new stage curtain, and a fire marshal in uniform stood beside it with his arms folded.

Every door along the east wall was propped open.

Three hundred donors in black tie stood talking with their glasses, and none of them looked at the doors.

I looked at nothing else.

"Breathe," Elin said at my elbow.

She wore a plum dress and her good earrings, and her jaw was set.

"I am."

"You're holding your clutch in a fist."

"It's the only thing I'm holding."

I had bought my gown myself, in Duluth, with my own money.

It was dark blue, with long sleeves and a bare neckline, and I had left off the glove.

My left hand lay on my clutch, ungloved, with the white scar running across the knuckles.

I wanted every person in that room to see it.

Wren was upstairs in a suite with Dr. Koski's sister, and I had checked on her twice.

Margit was at the head table in gray silk.

Astrid sat on her right in white, exactly as she had a year ago, with her hair pinned up and a glass of water in front of her.

She saw me and smiled with perfect warmth.

I smiled back.

I had learned something about being looked at.

"They're livestreaming," Elin said.

"Soren asked them to."

"He's got nerve."

"He's got a speech."

At nine, the lights dimmed by half, and Soren walked out onto the stage.

He wore a black tuxedo, and he stood a moment at the microphone with two folded pages in his hand.

He found me in the crowd at once.

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