Chapter 4

An hour later, the doorbell rang.

My sister, Elise, walked in. She didn't ask me any stupid questions. She just brought a stack of empty boxes.

We went back in together. My laptop sat zipped in its case beside the door. I checked the pocket for its charger, then put my passport and medication in the bag I would keep with me.

Elise had put fresh sheets on the spare bed. She told me there was room in the bathroom cabinet, and that I could work at her dining table on Monday.

We checked the short list of things staying behind. Books, my desk, winter clothes. I would arrange another time to collect them.

No answer about the house was coming today. I could still leave it.

The house contact had acknowledged my email and offered an appointment the following week. I accepted it from the hallway.

Elise was putting the last suitcase into her car when the wedding coordinator called.

I answered from the front step.

"Audrey, I need your final answer about the attendance confirmation you withdrew. Is tomorrow's ceremony going ahead?"

"No," I said. "Cancel it."

My voice sounded steady. My free hand had closed around the doorframe.

Rachel paused.

"Do I have your authorization to notify the venue, vendors, and guests?"

"Yes. I'll call my parents and the relatives closest to me. Please wait to contact Nolan until I've left the house."

She confirmed that she would wait for my message.

Then, I called my parents. I called my closest friends. I told them not to book their flights.

This was it. The wedding was officially off.

I hung up the phone.

A second later, the screen lit up again. It was Nolan.

Nolan had sent the restaurant booking.

He'd chosen somewhere I liked. I recognized the name immediately, and my chest tightened.

I didn't think he was pretending.

That was the part I couldn't make painless. He wanted tomorrow. He wanted me in the dress, beside him, living in this house afterward.

He just hadn't understood why I needed something from him today.

He thought yesterday was just a small fight. He thought a good dinner and some wine would fix my broken heart.

Elise lowered the trunk lid gently.

"Is that everything for now?"

"Yes."

I wrote three sentences on a sheet of paper.

[I am ending our engagement. Tomorrow's wedding is canceled. Rachel will contact you about the arrangements.]

I placed my ring on the note, picked up my shoulder bag, and went outside.

Elise took the driver's seat. I sat beside her and fastened my belt.

She didn't ask if I was sure.

We pulled away from the house.

At the end of the street, my phone vibrated.

"I finished early. I'm coming home to pick you up."

For a second, I watched the words.

Then our car turned the corner.

I opened Rachel's conversation.

"Tell him now."