Amala put a hand over her heart, feeling pain there as the idea settled in. “I want them both to marry and be happy; I want them to not be alone. But it never crossed my mind that . . .”

“That they might find those things with each other?” Paulina asked, and Amala turned to stare at her.

“But it crossed your mind?”

“It did,” Paulina admitted. “I don’t know if they would ever find a spark of love between them, or if it’s even a remote possibility. Maybe they could never feel that way about each other. But we would be naive to think it’s not possible, my dear.” Paulina took Amala’s hand. “I can’t imagine how difficult that might be for you, but I do think it’s something we should perhaps talk about—in case their friendship evolves. He’s so very comfortable with your family. What if he grows to love Kat enough to make her his wife?”

Amala gasped for breath and dropped the letter as she stood abruptly and went to the window, holding to the sill to help her remain upright.

“Obviously the idea upsets you,” Paulina said.

“How could it not? I’m trying very hard to make peace with accepting that Henry will never be a part of my life, but how can I live with knowing that he might share with my sister . . . everything that I can never have?”

“That’s a very good question, my dear,” Paulina said with compassion, “and a very difficult one. Perhaps it will never happen, and I don’t think you should get yourself all worked up over something that hasn’t happened. But I do believe—all things considered—you should prepare yourself for the possibility.”

“Of course,” Amala said and was aware of Paulina leaving the room. Because of her extra sense, she seemed to know when Amala needed time alone. She was able to cry some tears that needed to be shed, but she believed that no amount of time alone or otherwise could ever make her comfortable with the possibility of Henry courting—or marrying—her sister.

Contemplating the matter during quiet moments throughout the course of many days, Amala felt no closer to believing she could cope with such a thing. She was grateful to be able to talk openly about her feelings with Paulina, who eventually offered the suggestion, “If you can’t live with it, you don’t have to.”

“What do you mean?”