The guests started leaving.
Paige sat with me. My mom called the reception hall.
The food was already cooked. The reception coordinator said they could pack up most of it and donate it to a shelter downtown. But most of our deposits were nonrefundable.
The flowers were paid for. The cake was sitting at the reception hall.
It would take weeks to untangle all of it.
My phone buzzed over and over.
A cousin asking if I was okay. An aunt asking if there’d been an emergency. Somebody from Seth’s side telling me all couples fight, and I shouldn’t make a permanent decision while I was upset.
I turned my phone off.
Paige helped me take off my veil. One bobby pin was stuck. It took her three tries to get it out without pulling my hair.
Neither of us said anything until she was done.
Then she whispered, “You know you can be sad about this and still be right.”
And I cried even harder.
Seth and I hadn’t moved in together yet. We were supposed to move my things into his townhouse at the end of the month.
For once, putting that off had worked in my favor.
About forty minutes later, Paige pulled my car around to the side door.
She carried my bag down the hallway.
Right before we got to the door, Heather appeared at the other end of the hall.
Her eyes were red.
“Natalie. Can I talk to you for a second?”
Paige stepped closer to me.
Heather saw it.
“I’m not here to argue,” she said.
Behind her, a few people were taking decorations off the reception tables. Outside, I could hear kids playing on the church lawn. Probably Maddie and Ben.
Even after everything, I found myself worrying about what Heather was going to do on Monday.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Seth told me you were going to help because you wanted to,” she said. “I swear that’s what he told me.”
“I believe that’s what he told you.”
She looked relieved for a second.
“But you should have asked me,” I said.
“I know.”
She rubbed her face with both hands.
“There’s something else.”
I waited.
“About a year ago, Seth had trouble with his truck.”
“I know. The engine had to be replaced.”
“Did he tell you how he paid for it?”
“He said he’d been saving.”
Heather closed her eyes.
“Oh, God.”
“What?”
“Did Seth ever tell you he borrowed money from me?”
“No.”
“Six thousand, four hundred dollars.”
I stared at her.
“He owes you sixty-four hundred dollars?”
She nodded.
“And three weeks ago,” she said, “he told me he’d found a way to pay me back.”
A cold, sick feeling settled in my stomach.
“What way?”
Heather’s eyes went to my wedding dress.
“Natalie,” she said quietly. “I think you need to sit down.”
Sophia Rivers is an experienced News Content Editor with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for delivering accurate and engaging news stories. At TheArchivists, she specializes in curating, editing, and presenting news content that informs and resonates with a global audience.
Sophia holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Toronto, where she developed her skills in news reporting, media ethics, and digital journalism. Her expertise lies in identifying key stories, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring journalistic integrity in every piece she edits.
Known for her precision and dedication to the truth, Sophia thrives in the fast-paced world of news editing. At TheArchivists, she focuses on producing high-quality news content that keeps readers informed while maintaining a balanced and insightful perspective.
With a commitment to delivering impactful journalism, Sophia is passionate about bringing clarity to complex issues and amplifying voices that matter. Her work reflects her belief in the power of news to shape conversations and inspire change.