Chapter 1 · I Called Off the Wedding and Left for Northel

Chapter 1

The night before we were supposed to get our marriage license, my fiancé Michael Lane handed me back our marriage papers.

"Claire, let's call off the registration tomorrow. Evelyn's really upset, and I need to be with her," he said.

"I booked you a group tour to Willow Springs. Go relax and clear your mind," he added.

I took the marriage papers and nodded.

He breathed out, looking relieved, and told me I was being really mature about it.

He had no idea I never went to Willow Springs.

I handed the marriage papers back to my parents and accepted the assignment from the State Museum to join the Northel Mural Restoration Initiative.

This time, I wasn't even going to say goodbye.

*****

He turned and went into the bedroom to pack a few changes of clothes.

In the middle of the night, he rushed over to Evelyn Shaw's place, not even waiting for morning.

The moment the door clicked shut, I pulled out my phone.

I called the wedding planner.

"Hello, I'm canceling the wedding on the 16th of next month," I said.

The customer service rep paused for a few seconds.

"Miss Jennings, if you cancel now, the deposit won't be refunded," she said.

"That's fine, keep the deposit. Please take down all the decorations at the venue," I replied.

After hanging up, I called the hotel where we'd booked the reception.

I called off the whole wedding reception.

Then I texted my best friend Iris, who was going to be my bridesmaid. [The wedding's canceled. Don't bother trying on the bridesmaid dresses.]

Iris called me right away.

"Claire, are you out of your mind? The invitations are already out, and now you're saying you're not getting married?" she asked.

"Michael went to be with Evelyn. He said we're putting off the marriage license," I replied.

There was a brief silence on the other end, then Iris exploded.

"Michael is such a jerk! I knew he never really cut ties with that drama queen!" she yelled.

"Just wait, I'm going to tear him apart right now!" she added.

I stopped her.

"Don't bother, Claire. It's not worth ending up at the police station because of a guy like him," I said.

After hanging up, I pulled a document out of my drawer.

It was the application form for the Northel Mural Restoration Initiative from the State Museum.

I'd already told the museum director no.

Because I was caught up in wedding preparations.

But now, it felt like fate had cleared the way for me.

I signed my name on the last page.

Then I slipped the application form into my bag.

I changed my clothes and took a cab back to my parents' place.

At midnight, I knocked on the door.

My parents came out, wrapped in their coats, looking surprised.

"Claire? What are you doing back here so late? Where's Michael?" my mom asked.

I set the marriage papers down on the coffee table.

"Dad, Mom, I'm not getting married," I said.

My mom clutched the doorframe, her voice shaky and full of worry.

"What happened? Weren't you two supposed to get your marriage license tomorrow?" she asked.

I told them everything; how Michael had gone to be with Evelyn, and why I was back.

My dad grabbed a cup off the coffee table and hurled it into the trash can.

"He's bullying us right at our own door! Does he think the Jennings Family is just going to sit back and let him walk all over us?" he shouted.

I grabbed my dad just as he was about to slip on his shoes and storm out.

"Dad, don't bother," I said.

"He's already got someone else on his mind. Even if we got married, our home would just be a mess of drama.

"I've decided to join the Northel Mural Restoration Initiative."

My mom's eyes were teary and red.

"It's harsh out there, with all the sandstorms and tough conditions. How will your hands hold up?" she asked.

"This is what my hands are meant for, restoring things. It's way better than staying here and trying to fix a mess of a relationship," I replied.

I hugged my mom.

"Don't worry, I'm not that fragile," I said.

That night, I slept soundly.

The house was finally quiet, no more midnight phone calls from Michael to Evelyn, no more of his endless excuses about how they were 'just friends.'

*****

Early the next morning, I headed straight to the State Museum.

I walked right up to the museum director and handed him the signed application form.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Ms. Jennings, weren't you about to get married?" he asked.

Chapter 1

The night before we were supposed to get our marriage license, my fiancé Michael Lane handed me back our marriage papers.

"Claire, let's call off the registration tomorrow. Evelyn's really upset, and I need to be with her," he said.

"I booked you a group tour to Willow Springs. Go relax and clear your mind," he added.

I took the marriage papers and nodded.

He breathed out, looking relieved, and told me I was being really mature about it.

He had no idea I never went to Willow Springs.

I handed the marriage papers back to my parents and accepted the assignment from the State Museum to join the Northel Mural Restoration Initiative.

This time, I wasn't even going to say goodbye.

*****

He turned and went into the bedroom to pack a few changes of clothes.

In the middle of the night, he rushed over to Evelyn Shaw's place, not even waiting for morning.

The moment the door clicked shut, I pulled out my phone.

I called the wedding planner.

"Hello, I'm canceling the wedding on the 16th of next month," I said.

The customer service rep paused for a few seconds.

"Miss Jennings, if you cancel now, the deposit won't be refunded," she said.

"That's fine, keep the deposit. Please take down all the decorations at the venue," I replied.

After hanging up, I called the hotel where we'd booked the reception.

I called off the whole wedding reception.

Then I texted my best friend Iris, who was going to be my bridesmaid. [The wedding's canceled. Don't bother trying on the bridesmaid dresses.]

Iris called me right away.

"Claire, are you out of your mind? The invitations are already out, and now you're saying you're not getting married?" she asked.

"Michael went to be with Evelyn. He said we're putting off the marriage license," I replied.

There was a brief silence on the other end, then Iris exploded.

"Michael is such a jerk! I knew he never really cut ties with that drama queen!" she yelled.

"Just wait, I'm going to tear him apart right now!" she added.

I stopped her.

"Don't bother, Claire. It's not worth ending up at the police station because of a guy like him," I said.

After hanging up, I pulled a document out of my drawer.

It was the application form for the Northel Mural Restoration Initiative from the State Museum.

I'd already told the museum director no.

Because I was caught up in wedding preparations.

But now, it felt like fate had cleared the way for me.

I signed my name on the last page.

Then I slipped the application form into my bag.

I changed my clothes and took a cab back to my parents' place.

At midnight, I knocked on the door.

My parents came out, wrapped in their coats, looking surprised.

"Claire? What are you doing back here so late? Where's Michael?" my mom asked.

I set the marriage papers down on the coffee table.

"Dad, Mom, I'm not getting married," I said.

My mom clutched the doorframe, her voice shaky and full of worry.

"What happened? Weren't you two supposed to get your marriage license tomorrow?" she asked.

I told them everything; how Michael had gone to be with Evelyn, and why I was back.

My dad grabbed a cup off the coffee table and hurled it into the trash can.

"He's bullying us right at our own door! Does he think the Jennings Family is just going to sit back and let him walk all over us?" he shouted.

I grabbed my dad just as he was about to slip on his shoes and storm out.

"Dad, don't bother," I said.

"He's already got someone else on his mind. Even if we got married, our home would just be a mess of drama.

"I've decided to join the Northel Mural Restoration Initiative."

My mom's eyes were teary and red.

"It's harsh out there, with all the sandstorms and tough conditions. How will your hands hold up?" she asked.

"This is what my hands are meant for, restoring things. It's way better than staying here and trying to fix a mess of a relationship," I replied.

I hugged my mom.

"Don't worry, I'm not that fragile," I said.

That night, I slept soundly.

The house was finally quiet, no more midnight phone calls from Michael to Evelyn, no more of his endless excuses about how they were 'just friends.'

*****

Early the next morning, I headed straight to the State Museum.

I walked right up to the museum director and handed him the signed application form.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Ms. Jennings, weren't you about to get married?" he asked.