The reason for Roxy’s jealousy was that Noelle got to stick close to Laurence every waking minute, and that Laurence was nice to her.

It took a while before Noelle found her voice. “Mom, Lilian, I-I’ll follow Mr. Laurence only when he’s out and about after he gets married. I’ll make myself scarce once he reaches his destination. I can keep my distance that way.

“Laurence’s future wife should know who I am and where I stand in the family when she dates him, so she won’t get the wrong idea.”