Chapter 3

Grant and Celeste arrived at my apartment together at nine the next morning.

My wedding dress still hung beside the bedroom window. I wore the cream dress from the rehearsal, and two suitcases stood near the front door.

I placed photographs of the calendars and the Ridge House key on the kitchen table.

"Three years," I said. "Tell me why."

Celeste began crying. "It started after my divorce. Grant came to check on me."

"At the cabin?"

She nodded.

Grant reached for my hand. I pulled it away.

"Were you planning to keep seeing her after we married?"

"What Celeste and I have is complicated."

"No. It's an affair."

Celeste looked at him. "You told me the wedding wouldn't change us."

Grant's jaw tightened. "This isn't the time."

"Then when is the time?" I asked. "After I become your wife and go back to managing your life?"

"Mara, you and I have built something real. We have a home. My family trusts you."

"You mean they use me."

"That's not what I said."

"Tell Celeste why you're marrying me instead of her."

Grant looked at my sister.

"Mara is steady," he said. "She understands responsibility."

Celeste stared at him. "And what am I?"

He didn't answer.

"Did you ever plan to cancel the wedding?" she asked.

Grant looked away. "No."

Celeste pressed a hand to her mouth.

"Then what did you think would happen to me?"

"Nothing had to change."

I almost laughed. That was his answer to both of us. He had planned to marry me, continue seeing her, and let each woman absorb the pain he didn't want to face.

"He wasn't choosing either of us," I said. "He was choosing the arrangement."

I lifted my suitcases.

"I'll see both of you at the chapel."

Grant stepped toward me. "Are you still going through with the wedding?"

"You'll have your answer at three."

By two fifty-five, all one hundred and twelve guests were seated inside Willow Creek Chapel.

Tess drove me to the side entrance. My parents waited in the car. They knew what I was about to do, and neither had tried to stop me.

Reverend Hill met me in the hallway.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes."

He opened the chapel doors.

The organ stopped.

Every head turned.

Grant stood at the altar in his tuxedo. Hope crossed his face when he saw me, even though I wasn't wearing my wedding dress.

Celeste stood near the front pew in her bridesmaid dress. The hummingbird brooch was still pinned above her heart.

I walked down the aisle alone.

Grant reached for me when I joined him at the altar.

"We can fix this," he whispered.

I stepped past him and faced the guests.

"There won't be a wedding today."

A murmur moved through the chapel.

"For almost three years, Grant has been having an affair with my sister. His mother helped them use family appointments, my car, and my time to hide it."

Elaine stood. "This is a private matter."

"It stopped being private when you invited one hundred and twelve people to watch me marry a lie."

I placed the calendar photographs on the altar.

Grant caught my arm. "Mara, enough."

"Let go."

He did.

I looked at Celeste.

"Elaine once told me that brooch would belong to Grant's wife. Last night, Grant asked you to wear it."

Celeste touched the silver bird.

"He made his choice before I made mine."

I removed my engagement ring and set it beside the photographs.

"The wedding is canceled."

Then I turned and walked back down the aisle.

Behind me, Celeste called Grant's name.

"Everyone knows now," she said. "There's nothing left to hide."

The chapel went quiet.

"Choose me."

I reached the open doors.

Grant shouted my name.

Then I heard him running behind me.

I didn't look back to see whether he was coming to stop me or abandoning Celeste again.