"I didn't say you were doing anything bad."

"You proposed to her after Yehudit was born?" Lek asked.

"I had actually proposed several times before things happened. Your Aunt left the village and disappeared when she was carrying Yehudit, so I couldn't propose then."

"Why didn't she marry you before she left?" Lek asked.

"Well, you might not believe this but your Aunt Lia used to be fairly wild. She didn't think she would make a good wife or be a good mother to our children."

"She's crazy and weirdly overprotective of Yehudit... But I don't think she's bad." Lek said. "Why didn't she marry you when she found out she was pregnant?"

"Because of what she went through. She ran because she was frightened and probably ashamed. Women don't tend to like a man's attentions because they can have flashbacks and they have to learn to trust again. And no she's not a bad mother at all."

"If she felt that way then why did she marry you after Yehudit was born?" Lek asked.

"It wasn't right away and it took a lot of convincing of her."

"How did you convince her?" Lek asked.

Aron grinned. "I think I finally got on her nerves that she simply gave in. I had to make concessions though. I had to promise to not touch without getting permission, separate beds, keeping my distance. Things like that."

Lek blushed, but it explained why there was so much space between Yehudit and Ertzel's birthdays. "Oh, I see."

Aron tousled his hair. "All of your questions answered?"

"Were you alone with Aunt Liadan when she agreed to marry you?" Lek asked.

Aron thought about it. "Sort of. We were alone at our table at the inn."

"My mother and Aunt Brie weren't there?" Lek asked.

"They were probably in the dining room, but not at our table. I remember Papa watching us from a distance though."

"Do you think having them nearby helped?" Lek asked.

"Truthfully, it made me a little nervous."

"But what about her?" Lek asked. "Do you think she was more comfortable not being alone with you?"

"Probably," Aron admitted.

"Was she afraid to be alone with you?" Lek asked.

"I don't know that afraid was the word. She was uneasy and untrusting."

"But it was better if Mama or Aunt Brie were with her too." Lek said.

"Yes." Aron was growing suspicious again. His nephew was up to something, he just couldn't put his finger on what.