"Thank you both." said my mother, holding my sister and me close. Her cheeks were stained with tears. I kept looking off to the side, embarrassed at being pulled into a hug in front of everyone.
My cousin Angela was standing ten feet away, peering out from her mother's skirt. My mother squeezed us tighter for a moment and then released us.
"Bertie." she whispered to me, "Why don't you take Angela out to the pond and pick me a new bouquet. Mine has become ruined." I pulled back and saw that I had crushed hers.
I gave her a small smile and grabbed Angela's hand, escaping out the door before any aunts could stop us.