Chapter 2

By the time I reached Cedar Lane, Mark's car was already in the driveway.

Inside, he went straight to the fireplace and reached for our wedding photo.

I grabbed one side of the frame. "Don't."

Mark took hold of the other side. "Elise."

I didn't let go.

It had rained on our wedding day. My hair was wet in the photo, and Mark's suit jacket was wrapped around my shoulders.

I'd wanted to wait until the rain stopped, but Mark told the photographer to take the picture right then. He wanted to remember how happy I looked.

"Please," Mark said. "She'll be here soon."

He pulled the frame toward him. I held on for another second before it slipped from my fingers.

He carried it down the hall and placed it face down on the top shelf of the linen closet.

When he came back, he wrapped his arms around me.

"I love you," he murmured against my hair. "This doesn't change us."

I closed my eyes and leaned into his chest, wanting so badly to believe him.

An hour later, Mark brought Tessa into the house.

I stayed quiet as we sat around the kitchen island for dinner.

Tessa reached for a napkin, then stopped when she saw my left hand.

"That's the ring," she said.

She turned to Mark. "Your mother showed it to me right before she died. You promised you'd put it on my finger at our wedding."

I looked at Mark, waiting for him to tell her she was wrong.

He looked down at his plate.

He'd used the same ring to propose to me. He'd said his mother saved it for the woman he was meant to marry.

I'd worn it for seven years. After his mother died, I'd treasured it because I believed she'd chosen me too.

"When you put this on my hand, did you remember promising it to her?" I asked.

Mark sighed. "Elise, please. That was ten years ago. Let's not do this in front of her."

Tessa stared at the ring. "Take it off. I can't look at it."

She pushed her chair back and hurried upstairs to the master bedroom.

Mark followed her immediately.

I went to the guest room and sat on the edge of the mattress.

Ten minutes later, Mark opened the door. He walked over and knelt in front of me.

He took my left hand in both of his.

He'd knelt like this in my apartment when he asked me to marry him.

"Can you take it off until next Friday?" he asked softly.

I looked down at him. "What if I say no?"

Mark didn't answer.

"Mark!" Tessa called from the top of the stairs.

He looked toward the open door.

My hand started to shake. I pinched the band and pulled, but it caught at my knuckle.

I took a breath, tried again, and slid it off.

Mark held out his hand.

I closed my fist around the ring and pulled my hand back into my lap.

He kept his hand there for a moment.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

Then he stood and went back upstairs.

I took out my phone and found the video of our proposal.

On the screen, Mark slipped the ring onto my finger.

"Are you sure?" I asked in the video.

"I've never been more sure of anything," Mark answered.

I watched it once, then deleted it.

I scrolled through my contacts and tapped Julian's name.

We'd dated briefly before I met Mark. When it ended, Julian helped me pack and move. He never asked me to change my mind.

The call connected. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

I tried again. Julian heard me crying before I managed a word.

"Elise?" he said. "Do you need me to come get you?"

"Next Friday. At three."

"Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure of anything."