Five Minutes Before “I Do”

The smug look on Sandra's face froze, then cracked.

"Asher, what is wrong with you? Ten years together, and you're walking away? Do you think this is funny?"

Dad had just finished dialysis a few days ago. His face still looked gray as he tugged at my sleeve and said quietly, "Everyone's waiting out there. Whatever it is, we can talk after the ceremony. I've got the money…"

His hand shook as he pulled a bank card from his pocket.

I stopped him, tore off the boutonniere, and started toward the exit.

Sandra's mom, Margaret Crowe, panicked. She rushed over, shoved Dad aside, and raised her voice.

"You think you can back out now? There are over 100 tables out there! You really think you can just call this off in front of everyone?"

Her father Logan Crowe's face turned dark. He ground his cigarette into the wall.

"You think our daughter's someone you can mess with? We raised her all these years. It's just 300 grand. Who do you think you're bluffing?"

A few relatives near the front picked up on the commotion and started whispering, glancing toward the back.

"The wedding's about to start, and now the bride wants another 300 thousand?"

"The Grays are already stretched thin. Asher's dad is still waiting on a kidney. That kind of money would break them."

Sandra heard the murmurs getting louder. She covered her face and started crying.

"I'm not trying to hurt you! I just wanted to see if you were serious about us. Did you have to make such a scene?"

Her bridesmaids jumped in to smooth things over.

"Three hundred grand isn't that big a deal. Asher, you've been working for years. Are you telling me you can't even come up with that?"

"Or you just don't want to. Sounds like you're just not that serious about Sandra."

"She gave you ten years of her life! Asking for 300 grand is more than fair."

Sandra straightened, wiping her tears.

"Asher, do you hear that? Everyone agrees with me. I'll give you one last chance. Transfer the money now, and we pretend none of this happened. The wedding goes on. Otherwise, good luck finding someone better than me!"

Logan seized the moment and shoved me.

"Apologize to Sandra, pick up the ring, and finish the ceremony. If you keep pushing, I'll make sure your whole family pays for it."

In my last life, this was exactly how they boxed me in.

Sandra had cried and said she just wanted security, that she was afraid I would change and treat her badly.

Margaret and Logan promised the money would still belong to us as a couple.

Her relatives piled on, saying I was irresponsible.

I didn't want my parents embarrassed. I didn't want ten years to mean nothing, either.