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Chapter 4

Author: Tubbs
I removed the key to Owen’s house from my ring and placed it on the shoe cabinet.

His face changed. “What are you doing?”

“Didn’t you just say I’m about to become part of Grant’s family?”

I picked up the photo album. “You can leave this room to her.”

He caught my arm. “Vivian, I only said that because I was angry.”

I looked down at his hand.

“But the wall is really gone.”

He released me slowly, as though my skin had burned him.

The new white wall glared behind us.

Owen opened his mouth but didn’t promise to restore it. He probably understood that no one could recreate our father’s handwriting.

I walked out, leaving the key I had carried for more than a decade on the cabinet.

This time, I stopped inventing reasons to take it back.

On the day of our marriage-license appointment, Grant wore the white shirt I loved best. I had chosen it while helping him try on wedding suits.

He smiled the moment he saw me. “Well? Listening to my future wife takes years off my face, doesn’t it?”

He handed me a coffee, black, no sugar, and a breakfast sandwich made without the cilantro I hated.

“Once we’re married, you can punish me however you like. I’ll sleep on the couch for a month. Or the garage floor. Your pick.”

Owen and Tessa came with us. Tessa even switched her phone to silent.

I told myself I would trust them one last time.

There were four couples ahead of us when Grant’s phone rang.

Serena.

He ignored the first call. Then the second. On the third, he finally stood and walked away to answer.

When he returned, his smile had disappeared.

“I need to go out for a while.”

“Where?”

“Serena went to Mason’s apartment to pick up her things. She saw him there with his new wife, and now she’s crying in the hallway.”

Owen rose immediately. “I’ll go.”

Tessa stood too.

But Grant had already picked up his car keys. “She won’t listen to either of you.”

I looked at him. “There are four couples ahead of us.”

“I know.” He put both hands on my shoulders. “Twenty minutes. I’ll get her into a car and come straight back.”

“Grant.”

“Yes?”

“We’re here to get married today.”

Something flickered in his eyes, but he still smiled.

“That’s exactly why I need to settle this quickly. Otherwise she’ll keep causing a scene.”

He pinched my cheek.

“Wait for me. Nothing is stopping me from making you my wife today.”

Then he left.

The clerk called our names once.

“The groom is almost here,” I said.

Our names were called a second time. When Grant still hadn’t returned, we lost our slot.

Tessa looked sick. “Get back in line. He’ll make it.”

So I joined the line again.

When we were almost at the front, I phoned Grant.

He took a long time to answer. I could hear crying in the background.

“Are you on your way back?” I asked.

He hesitated for two seconds. “I don’t think I’ll make it today.”

“You said you were putting her in a car.”

“What if I leave her like this and she does something to herself?”

“What about me?”

His patience finally snapped.

“You’re sitting safely in the county clerk’s office. What exactly is going to happen to you?”

The room around me went silent. Even Owen’s expression changed.

Grant corrected himself at once. “Vivian, that isn’t what I meant.”

I said nothing.

He sighed and softened his voice again. “Fine. I’m sorry. Waiting one more day for a marriage license won’t hurt us. We’ll come back tomorrow, okay?

“Stop being so stubborn.

“It isn’t as if you’re going anywhere.”

He came home at ten that night carrying a bag of cinnamon-sugar donuts.

I was waiting in the living room.

The moment he stepped inside, he crouched to remove my shoes. “You were on your feet all day. They must be swollen.”

I pulled away.

He looked up with a weary smile. “I came back, didn’t I? What else do you want? Marriage licenses don’t expire because you apply a day late.”

I studied the man kneeling in front of me.

He remembered that my feet hurt, that I hated cilantro, and which shop sold my favorite donuts.

He forgot that I had spent the day waiting to become his wife.

I removed my engagement ring and set it in his palm.

“The wedding is canceled.”

He glanced down and laughed. “Don’t try to scare me with this.”

I pushed his suitcase into the hallway.

A red honeymoon tag swung from the handle. I tore it off and dropped it inside.

“There won’t be a license either.”

His smile finally vanished.

I went to the lock and deleted his fingerprint.

Beep.

Access removed.

Grant seized my wrist. “Vivian. Are you serious?”

I pulled free.

“This isn’t because of today.

“It’s because of every time.”

The door began to close.

He thrust out one hand to stop it.

For the first time, genuine panic entered his voice.

“Vivian!

“Don’t shut the door.”

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  • No Room for Them   Chapter 9

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  • No Room for Them   Chapter 8

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  • No Room for Them   Chapter 7

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  • No Room for Them   Chapter 6

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  • No Room for Them   Chapter 4

    I removed the key to Owen’s house from my ring and placed it on the shoe cabinet.His face changed. “What are you doing?”“Didn’t you just say I’m about to become part of Grant’s family?”I picked up the photo album. “You can leave this room to her.”He caught my arm. “Vivian, I only said that because I was angry.”I looked down at his hand.“But the wall is really gone.”He released me slowly, as though my skin had burned him.The new white wall glared behind us.Owen opened his mouth but didn’t promise to restore it. He probably understood that no one could recreate our father’s handwriting.I walked out, leaving the key I had carried for more than a decade on the cabinet.This time, I stopped inventing reasons to take it back.On the day of our marriage-license appointment, Grant wore the white shirt I loved best. I had chosen it while helping him try on wedding suits.He smiled the moment he saw me. “Well? Listening to my future wife takes years off my face, doesn’t it

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