Chapter Two

On a day like this, I missed the father I never knew.

If he were alive, he’d be walking me down the aisle, a huge smile on his face, tears in his eyes. He’d be whispering to me how proud he was of the woman I’d become. But I couldn’t afford to dwell on that thought, not right now.

With each step I took down the aisle, a growing sense of unease settled over me.

Around me, the murmurs and whispers grew louder.

I glanced up toward where Kelvin was supposed to be standing, but he wasn’t there.

I paused mid-step, and just then, Bree approached me.

“What’s going on? Where’s Kelvin?” I asked.

She didn’t answer right away, simply led me out of the church.

“He’s not here yet,” she said, but the tight frown on her face told me everything.

“Why isn’t he here already Bree?”

“I don’t know.”

A thought crossed my mind. What if he never shows up?

The thought filled me with panic.

“He won’t come, will he?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe he got cold feet and decided not to…”

“Don’t say that, Tessa,” Bree said, cutting me off. “He’s just running a bit late. I’m sure he’s on his way. Just come with me, and we’ll wait a little longer.”

“He’s supposed to be here, Bree.  People might show up late to work, but they don’t show up late to their own wedding. Oh my God, what if you were right about him. What if he leaves me here, looking like a fool in front of everyone…” I cried, my words tumbling out in a panicked rush.

"Something must have happened. He could’ve gotten stuck in traffic or something. It’s no time to panic—he’ll be here. Just give him a few more minutes," she assured me.

I nodded, wiping away my tears.

Why the hell would I think Kelvin would ghost me on our own wedding day? Bree was right—maybe he was just stuck in traffic.

“I might have ruined my makeup.”

“Come here.” Bree said, leading me to the dressing room. “Take a seat.” She urged, and I did. She quickly worked on my makeup.

When you’ve lived a life like mine, that fear was valid. Kelvin was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and every step of the way, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my luck would run out—that he’d eventually leave me too.

But that wasn’t Kelvin. He’d be here soon. He was a good guy. He wouldn’t do this to me.

Twenty minutes passed and Kelvin was still yet to arrive.

The panic was slowly returning, and I could tell Bree was feeling just as worried.

“I’ll go find his parents; they might know what’s causing the delay,” Bree said. I nodded, unable to find anything else to say.

I searched my purse for my phone and when I found it, I dialed Kelvin’s number. The first call went on unanswered. I tried again and then he picked up after three rings.

“Kelvin, where the hell are you? The wedding has already started and you are nowhere to be found.”

“Something came up,” he said, his voice groggy, as if he had just gotten out of bed.

“Something more important than your own wedding?” I asked, bewildered.

“I – I can’t make it, Tessa. Let’s postpone the wedding.”

What?

“What?”

“We could move it to another date—anytime you want, but just not today.”

Was this some kind of joke?

“Are you even hearing yourself? The guests are already here, I’m in my wedding dress... what do you mean, 'postpone the wedding'?”

‘Babe, who’s that on the phone?’ a woman’s voice called out in the background.

I paused because I recognized that voice.

That wasn’t just any woman’s voice—it was Rebecca’s, and it almost felt like she was deliberately making sure I knew she was there.

I couldn’t believe it. Things like this were supposed to happen only in movies, not real life.

The signs had been there all along, and somehow, I’d been blind to them. I wondered if this was what Bree had seen that made her so against my relationship with Kelvin.

“So ‘something came up’ you say?”

“Tessa, it’s not what you think. Let’s talk about this later, Okay?”

“You’re with your ex on our wedding day, and you’re telling me it’s not what I think?” I asked, barely aware of how badly I was shaking. The anger was rising inside me—hot, overwhelming, unlike anything I’d ever felt before.

I never considered myself a stupid person, but I must have been if I believed he was a good guy. I was actually about to marry this man.

“Tessa…”

“There won’t be a ‘later,’ Kelvin. It’s over.”

Silence.

“Tessa, you’re not thinking clearly…”

“Oh, I’m thinking more clearly than I have in the past eight months.”

Another moment of silence passes, and I’m about to hang up when his voice cuts through the speaker.

“You know, you weren’t the only one not thinking clearly. I didn’t know what I was thinking either. I mean, take a look at yourself, Tessa. You’re nothing but a poor waitress. Your mother’s a drug addict—your life is already messed up. Taking you as my wife would’ve just ruined mine.

You think I don’t know you and your crazy-ass mother planned to leech onto me and suck me dry of every penny I’ve made?”

I stood there, frozen to the spot.

I had confided in him about my mother. Except for the neighbors who knew, Bree and Kelvin were the only ones I had ever told, and now he was shoving it right back in my face.

What hurt me the most was that he was right.

I was just a waitress, a very poor one who might end up eating from hand to mouth for the rest of my life. And on top of that, I had a mother to feed, a mother who had once been a drug addict and left me all alone.

I ended the call just before Bree walked back in. She opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when she saw the look on my face—and the phone still in my hand.

Was that Kelvin?” she asked, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer, still in shock. Tears streamed down my face. “What happened? What did he do? Tell me what the hell that bastard did to you, and I’ll—”

“The wedding is off.”

“What?”

“You were right. Kelvin and I – we were never meant to be.”

I stood up and headed for the door.

She immediately followed, but I stopped her midway.

“No,” I said, my voice barely audible. “I want to be alone right now, please.”

She nodded, letting me go.

I ran down the street in my wedding dress, tears streaming down my cheeks.