“Careful, Brigitta,” Renee cautioned.
“Careful why?” she looked indignant, confident but strained.
“Careful of getting too arrogant. You did well. I’m proud of you. But there was a piece of yourself you lost… something you can never redeem. Be bold, be sure of yourself, but don’t put up a false front, not here. You don’t need to be that way with us.”
The young woman blushed. “I’m fine, cuz.”
“Of course you are… but first things first.” She placed her hand again on the girl’s (not the woman’s) hand, seeing the pretense crack a bit and tears well in her cousin’s eyes. Madame swept the girl away with her compassion, touching her heart with invisible fingers reaching in to pluck the hurt away with kindness.
Brigitta’s tears began to fall. “No, I’m okay. I am,” she insisted. “I swear, it
