Chapter 5

The wood was just mahogany, which I managed to get hold of at a garage sale back in my rural hometown. The carving skills were just rudimentary techniques I learned from Old Mr. Wooley back home.

Stifled laughter rippled through the ballroom.

"My God, what did she give her? A piece of wood?" one exclaimed.

"That's so shabby! The Lubitz family is supposed to be a wealthy family. Isn't it embarrassing to give something like this as a gift?" another asked.

"Just as I thought. She's from the boonies and can't hold her own in polite society," a third scoffed.