"You married Aunt Lia right away, right? As soon as you knew?" Lek asked.

"As soon as I knew what? And no, she dug her heels in and kept refusing for a long time."

"Knew she had a baby." Lek said.

"I was proposing long before that. I campaigned harder once I learned of the baby. But because she kept refusing me, my answer would have to be no, I didn't marry her as soon as I knew."

"But you would have married her sooner if you could have." Lek said.

"Yes, I would have." He eyed his nephew quizzically. "Is there a specific reason for these questions?"

"No." Lek lied. "Didn't you have the dates faked or something saying you married her a year before Yehudit was born?"

Aron could feel something was up. What it was, he wasn't certain of. But..."How did you know that?"

"You always celebrate your anniversary around Yehudit's birthday and say you were married a year before she was born. But it's not true." Lek said. "You married Aunt Liadan after but nobody questions Yehudit's parentage."

"I would appreciate if you don't spread that around. It could get a lot of people in trouble, including a magistrate."

Lek's eyes widened.

"I'd never spread that around." Lek was hurt that Aron was worried he would ruin what Aron did for Aunt Lia and Yehudit.

"I didn't believe you would. I just know how sometimes things slip out during a casual conversation."

"I wouldn't tell anyone." Lek said, and continued. "It all worked, didn't it? If it wasn't for Galina coming so you had to tell us no one would have been the wiser. Even Yehudit could have never known you're not her father by blood. Aunt Lia doesn't regret marrying you, right?"

"You are correct, if Galina hadn't reared her ug--her head, no one would have known any of it." Aron thought for a moment. "To the best of my knowledge, Lia has never regretted our marriage."

"Maybe even wishes she married you sooner?" Lek asked.

"I don't know if I would go that far. You would have to ask your Aunt that question." He studied Lek. "Are you sure there's not a specific reason for these questions?"

"No reason." Lek lied again.

"Lek," Aron said, giving him the look he reserved for when one of his kids were lying to him.

"I just wanted to know." Lek said, edging away from his uncle. "Did you need flowers when you proposed to her?"

Aron barely managed to not laugh. "Your Aunt Lia could not care less about flowers. It is a nice touch though."

"But don't most girls like flowers?" Lek frowned. "And a ring?" He knew he could not afford a ring, but hopefully that would not matter.

"Yes, most girls like flowers. It doesn't have to be a ring, the bracelet Larrigan made for Sileas was spectacular. It could even be a necklace."

Lek was getting some ideas. He was good with his hands. He could make something. "Okay..."

"I still think you are up to something."

"I'm not doing anything bad." Lek said defensively.