Biltmore Estate Ballroom 1907
"Edith," he said softly, taking her hand in his. "You look absolutely breathtaking tonight." She blushed, a delicate pink tint coloring her cheeks.
"Thank you, George. You clean up quite nicely yourself," she replied, her eyes sparkling with affection.
As the excitement of the evening filled the air, Edith turned to George with a knowing smile. "Don't forget, George," she reminded him gently, "you need to make your speech to welcome everyone to the ball."
George nodded, adjusting his bow tie nervously. "You're right, Edith. I must admit, I was hoping to impress you tonight."
William stepped forward, his heart racing at the sight of his mother. "Mother," he said warmly, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle embrace. "It's wonderful to see you looking so radiant."
Edith smiled, her eyes shimmering with pride. "William, thank you for saying that. It means a lot coming from you."
He pulled back slightly, meeting her gaze. "You're welcome, Mother."
George took a deep breath, steeling himself for the speech ahead. He glanced around the room, taking in the familiar faces of family and friends gathered to celebrate this special occasion. With a determined nod, he stepped forward, ready to share his thoughts and express the gratitude he felt in his heart.
George speaks out to the crowd of guests with enormous pride. "Welcome, everyone. I am here with my wife Edith and my son William. We are very honored that all of you were able to make it here for this wonderful celebration. My family has been celebrating the Winter Solstice for many years, as you are aware. And I intend to continue this tradition for many more years to come. Please enjoy this beautiful evening of dancing and socializing with each other."
As George concluded his heartfelt speech, a crowd of guests erupted into applause.
Gevherriz leaned closer to Lyanna and said, 'Isn't it wonderful to see everyone come together like this?' I can't wait to see what the rest of the night holds for us."
Lyanna nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Me too! I have a feeling there are some surprises in store that will make this evening unforgettable."
Gevherriz smiled at Lyanna, his enthusiasm infectious. "Would you like to go and socialize with the guests?" She asked, glancing around at the lively crowd. "I think it could be fun to mingle and see what everyone is talking about."
Lyanna's eyes brightened at the suggestion. "Absolutely! Let's go meet some new people and enjoy the festivities." With that, they joined the throng of guests.
As Gevherriz and Lyanna made their way through the lively crowd, Gevherriz suddenly spotted Şadiye across the room.
A smile spread across her face as she called out, "Şadiye! Over here!" She waved enthusiastically, eager to catch up with her.
Lyanna turned to see who she was beckoning, and her interest was piqued. "Do you know her?" she asked.
Gevherriz nodded, still waving. "Yes! She's a dear friend. Come on, let's go say hello!" With renewed excitement, they navigated through the sea of guests, eager to reconnect and share in the evening's festivities.
As they approached, Gevherriz's eyes sparkled with joy, and Lyanna couldn't help but feel the warmth of her enthusiasm. When they finally reached Şadiye, she greeted them with a bright smile, wrapping her arms around Gevherriz in a friendly embrace.
Gevherriz then looks at her friend Şadiye with a giant smile. "It's great to see you, Şadiye."
Şadiye chuckled, her eyes twinkling as she replied, "You too, Gevherriz!" I've been excited for this all week! Especially to be able to hang out with you, Gevherriz." Lyanna watched the exchange, feeling the warmth of their friendship envelop her like a cozy blanket.
Gevherriz then turned to introduce Şadiye to her new friend. "Şadiye, this is Lyanna," she said, gesturing toward her friend with enthusiasm. "Lyanna, meet Şadiye! She's one of my closest friends."
Şadiye smiled brightly and extended her hand to Lyanna. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lyanna!"
Lyanna returned the smile, feeling more at ease as the warmth of their friendship surrounded her. "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Şadiye!"
Gevherriz beamed at the two of them, delighted to see her friends connecting. "I knew you'd get along!" she exclaimed. "We're going to have a wonderful time together."
As the conversation flowed, Şadiye turned to Lyanna with genuine curiosity. "So, how long have you lived in North Carolina?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.
Lyanna paused for a moment, considering her answer. "I've been here for a few days now," she replied, feeling a sense of pride in her journey. "What about you?"
Şadiye nodded, intrigued. "I moved here just a year ago. It's been an adventure!" Lyanna smiled, appreciating the shared experience of adapting to a new place.
Then Lyanna noticed that both women had wedding rings on their fingers. Her interest piqued even more, she asked, "Are you both married?"
Şadiye smiled warmly and nodded. "Yes, I am!" My husband and I love living here."
The other woman chimed in, "Me too!" I got married last summer." Lyanna's interest deepened as she listened, feeling a connection with these women who shared similar life experiences. "That's wonderful! "How did you both meet your husbands?" she inquired, eager to hear their stories.