Marrying the Man in the Dark

“Cherise”

Mr. Tanner spoke with a furrowed brow during dinner. His voice was low and filled with concern, “Do you have something on your mind?”

Cherise quickly snapped back to reality. “No, nothing.”

“You’re telling me there’s nothing bothering you?”

Gwenn retorted with an eye-roll, her tone laced with annoyance. “You just reached for the food in my bowl, didn’t you?”

Cherise was taken aback.

She quickly realized she had indeed extended her fork into Gwenn’s bowl, even picking up a piece of vegetable from it.

She withdrew her hand at once, gave an embarrassed smile, and lowered her head to continue eating.

“Cherise, what did you do today?”

Mr. Tanner sighed softly and asked.

“Both your father and Damien are busy today. It’s just the three of us here at dinner tonight. If something’s troubling you, let me know.”

Cherise shook her head. “It’s… nothing.”

“What else could it be?”

demeanor. “You must be reluctant to change your

doesn’t want

the last name Shaw holds more weight

why are you belittling yourself

than for Cherise never to change her name, to

truth, she would remain the only Miss Tanner in

would not be sharing this title with anyone

“Silence!”

angry glare, then turned to Cherise. “Cherise, are you still considering changing your name?”

and looked

my mind. I want

with shelter, you may

He probably had not expected the

tapped the table. “Taking your mother’s

you intend to take the surname Miles or

chuckled in realization.

It was only after her marriage

should be

The name Cherise Neller is a bit of a mouthful. How about

still

with my mother today.”

“Mother…”