13. Sparkler

He does not know when it began to dawn on him that his adorable wife does, in fact, have some nonsense about her.

Perhaps it was the way she shoved her wedding bouquet into his hands in order to lift her own veil. Perhaps the way her voice changes, from a lively street drawl to the glass-smooth tones of his Mater, depending on who is with her. Or perhaps it was the pity in Miss Amy's eyes.

But the veil is off now, and the knot is tied. Too late to undo it, even for a cleverer man than himself.

"Sparkler," she says. "Be quiet."

He obeys.