Chapter 2

The diffuser pushed out a thread of white mist, the air conditioning ran over my bare shoulders, and my fingertips started to go numb.

Sophie pulled the veil off in a hurry and fumbled it, and the pearl chain caught her earring and made her suck in a breath.

Alex immediately stepped forward. "Don't move. Let me do it."

He put his head down and held her earlobe with his fingers, and every movement went soft.

Sophie bit her lip. "Emily, I didn't mean anything. I thought it was pretty and I wanted to try it for you."

Mom looked up from the couch with reproach in it. "Emily, it's a veil. Your sister came here to help you. Don't put everyone in a bad spot."

Dad set his mug down. "It's a happy occasion. Don't blow it up."

Blowing it up.

I had been hearing that my whole life.

When Sophie borrowed the first necklace I ever bought with overtime money and lost it, I was blowing it up.

When my parents rewrote my college applications so I would stay local and look after Sophie, I was blowing it up.

When Sophie borrowed the first necklace I ever bought with overtime money and lost it, I was blowing it up.

And by then, in my own wedding photos, she stood in the middle, and I was still blowing it up.

I wanted to laugh, and my mouth barely moved, and the makeup on my face pulled tight.

The photographer prompted us quietly. "Are we still shooting?"

Sophie's eyes went red, and she put her head down and ducked behind Alex.

Alex looked at me and dropped his voice. "Emily, apologize. She's about to cry."

I asked, "Apologize to whom?"

"To Sophie," he said. "She didn't mean any harm."

I could hear my own blood in my ears, and the traffic outside came through the glass as one dull mass of noise.

I stared at his mouth.

That mouth once said I would be his priority.

And it was telling me to apologize to Sophie.

I reached up and unclipped the pin from my hair.

The veil came down, and I closed my hand around it.

The pearls pressed into my palm, one after another, hard enough to hurt.

I handed the veil to Sophie.

"If you want it, you can have it," I said, my voice flat.

Sophie froze with her eyes wide. "Emily."

I turned around and walked into the fitting room.

Mom's voice came after me. "Emily, what are you making a scene about now?"

Alex said, "Let her cool down."

I pulled the curtain shut and got out of the dress slowly.

The stiff underskirt scraped my calf and left a red line.

I changed back into my black dress, hung the gown on the rack, and let my fingertips run over the lace at the front.

The shop assistant hovered at the door with a clip in her hand, and her voice came out thin. "Ms. Harper, do you still want to shoot?"

I looked at myself in the mirror.

I had no veil, no bouquet, and no Alex beside me.

It looked better that way.

"No, we're done," I said.

I picked up my bag and went out.

They were all still gathered around Sophie.

Alex was working the veil loose from her earring, Mom had a hand on her shoulder, Dad was frowning at me, and the photographer stood there with his camera and no idea who to point it at.

I went to the counter.

"I'll pay for today myself."

The assistant flipped through the contract. "Ms. Harper, the deposit is paid. The balance still needs settling."

"Charge what you have to and refund the rest."

Alex finally looked up. "Emily, don't do something rash."

I looked at him. "The wedding is off too."

The air in the room got cut off at the source.

Sophie's tears hung on her lashes and didn't fall.

Mom shot to her feet. "What did you say?"

I pushed my card across the counter. "I said the wedding is off."

Alex came to stand in front of me with the anger pressed down under his voice. "Emily, don't use the wedding to get at me."

"I'm not."

I looked up at him.

"I only worked out that this wedding doesn't need me."

His face went dark. "Do you have to talk like that?"

I let out a small, bitter laugh.

"Then let me be clearer."

I pointed at the veil on Sophie's head.

"The bride is already standing right there."