A Perfect Disaster

Chapter byx

Elena lowered her phone onto the dressing table, the smile lingering on her face even after the call had ended.  

“I’ll see you after the ceremony,” she’d promised.  

“And I’ll be waiting,” her mother had replied, before insisting she stop worrying about the hospital and start thinking like a bride.

The makeup artist fastened the last pin into Elena’s hair before stepping back to inspect her work. She adjusted a loose strand near Elena’s temple, nodded to herself, and finally set the comb aside.  

“There,” she said. “Now you can move.”

Elena laughed softly. “I’ve been waiting to hear that.”

“I know. Every five minutes you asked if we were done.”

“Because we weren’t.”

Across the room, Mia was already halfway through another phone call.  

“No, the white arrangements go on the left side of the entrance… Yes, the entrance, not the altar.” She listened for a moment and rubbed her forehead. “Please tell me someone remembered the guest book this time.”

She ended the call with a sigh and dropped onto the chair beside Elena.  

“I swear weddings take years off people’s lives.”

“I thought you said everything was under control.”

“I lied.”

Elena smiled. “Is it that bad?”

“No.” Mia waved the concern away almost immediately. “Just last-minute chaos. Apparently one of the florists thought the ceremony started this afternoon.”

“Why would he even think that?”

“Where has he seen weddings happen at noon?” Mia shook her head. “Don’t worry, love. I’ve got it under control.”

“You’ve done far too much for me already.”

“I haven’t done much, baby. You deserve more, princess.” Mia reached for the garment bag hanging nearby and ran a hand over the smooth fabric. “Which is exactly why today has to go perfectly.”

Before Elena could answer, her phone lit up on the table. She picked it up, expecting another message from one of Mia’s endless list of vendors. Instead, she smiled.  

“Ethan.”

She accepted the video call. His face appeared a second later, hair still damp, the collar of his shirt hanging open.

Elena frowned. “You’re not dressed.”

“I noticed.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Have you even finished getting ready?”

“I’m getting there.”

“Ethan…”

He laughed. “I’ve still got time.”

“You really don’t.”

“I do.”

She shook her head, unconvinced. “The ceremony starts in less than two hours.”

“And I fully intend to be there.”

A voice called from somewhere behind him. “Ethan! Where is my tie?”

Another answered almost immediately. “Forget the tie. Somebody’s stolen my cufflinks.”

The room behind him erupted into overlapping complaints. Ethan looked oguests'der before glae screen.  

“I should probably rescue them before they destroy the place.”

One of the groomsmen leaned into view and grinned at the camera. “Morning, Elena.”

Another appeared beside him. “You look beautiful already, and we haven’t even seen the dress yet.”

“Thank you,” Elena said, laughing.

Ethan smiled at the screen. “I’ll see you at the church.”

“You’d better be quick.”

He rested a hand against his chest with exaggerated sincerity. “I can’t be late for my own wedding.”

“Good answer.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

The screen went dark. For a moment Elena simply looked at her reflection. The room had gone quiet again. The dress waited behind her in its garment bag, untouched, and the morning sunlight spilled across the mirror. She’d imagined this day so many times that it had stopped feeling real. Yet here she was. In a little while she would walk into a church as Elena Hart. She would walk out as someone’s wife. The thought made her smile all over again.

Mia noticed it immediately.  

“Oh no,” she said, standing up. “There it is again.”

“What?”

“That smile.”

“I can’t help it.”

“I know.” Mia walked over, rested both hands lightly on Elena’s shoulders, and met her eyes in the mirror. “You deserve today.”

For the first time, Elena didn’t know what to say. Mia squeezed her shoulder once before reaching for the garment bag.  

“Come on,” she said softly. “Let’s get you into your dress.”

---

“Where is the bride?”

Mrs. Isis’s voice came from the hallway before she appeared at the door. She stepped into the room with a smile, looking from Elena to Mia as though she had been sent to retrieve them personally.  

“Still here?” she asked. “The guests are already waiting. You should both be downstairs any moment now.”

“We’re coming,” Mia said, reaching for the last few things on the table.

Mrs. Isis turned her attention to Elena and smiled. “You look so beautiful, my dear. Honestly, you look even better than I imagined.”

“Thank you.”

“And don’t keep everybody waiting too long. They are already asking when the bride is coming.”

Elena laughed softly. “We’ll be there.”

Mrs. Isis gave her hand a final squeeze before leaving. Mia watched her go, then looked at Elena through the mirror.  

“Well, apparently we’re celebrities now.”

“Apparently.”

They gathered their things and stepped into the hallway. A few relatives stopped them along the way, offering quick congratulations and compliments before letting them pass. One of Elena’s mother’s old neighbours caught her hand and told her she looked lovely, then immediately sent her off with a blessing when she noticed how quickly everyone was trying to get her downstairs.

By the time they reached the corridor leading toward the church, the sound of conversation from the guests had grown louder. The best man appeared from the other end.  

“Finally.” He smiled. “You need to get down there. We’re about to start.”

Mia glanced at the time. “We’re not late.”

“Not yet.” He looked toward the church, then pulled out his phone. “Have either of you heard from Ethan?”

Elena looked at him. “He hasn’t arrived?”

“I haven’t seen him.” He glanced at the screen before calling. “I’ve been trying to reach him.”

Elena’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “I spoke to him this morning. He said he was getting ready.”

“Maybe he’s already on his way.”

Mia took out her own phone. “Let me try him.” She called while Elena adjusted the edge of her veil. The phone rang long enough for Mia to glance at the screen before lowering it.  

“He didn’t answer.”

“Try again,” Elena said.

Mia did, and this time she waited a little longer before ending the call.  

“Nothing.”

Elena looked toward the church entrance. “I don’t even understand what’s going on. Ethan and I are going to have a lot to speak about when we get home.”

Mia gave her a helpless shrug. “It’s probably traffic. It has to be. Because honestly, what other excuse is there?”

Elena smiled despite herself. “Exactly.”

Her phone rang before Mia could say anything else. She looked at the screen and answered. “Hello?”

It was the florist. Mia listened for a moment before looking at Elena. “She’s here.” She handed the phone over.

The florist explained that there was still an outstanding balance for the flowers and some of the additional arrangements. Elena glanced at the decorations visible through the open doors and nodded.  

“Okay. I’ll send it now.”

She ended the call and handed the phone back. “Can you help me with that?” she asked Mia.

“Sure.”

Mia opened the banking app and entered the amount. She checked it once before submitting the payment. A message appeared on the screen.

Insufficient funds.

Mia stared at it. “That’s strange.” She tried again, this time carefully checking the amount before confirming it. The same message appeared. She turned the phone toward Elena.  

“Try yours.”

Elena took it without much thought. “Maybe the app is acting up.” She entered the amount herself and pressed confirm. The payment failed again.

Elena frowned at the screen, then opened her account balance. She stopped.  

“What?”

Mia leaned closer. Elena refreshed the page. The balance didn’t change. She opened her transaction history, scrolling slowly at first and then faster when the figures began to register. Several withdrawals appeared—amounts she didn’t recognise. Her savings account had been emptied.

Elena stared at the screen, unable to make the numbers fit together.  

“No.”

She checked the account again. Nothing. Her throat tightened.  

“Mia.”

Mia took the phone from her. Elena’s eyes filled before she could stop them. Mia looked at the transactions, then back at her.  

“Elena… these withdrawals aren’t yours?”

She shook her head slowly. “No. Someone took my money.”

“What am I going to do?” Elena whispered. “Mia, I don’t even have enough to pay for the wedding.” Her voice broke.

Mia put an arm around her. “We’ll figure it out.”

“How? The food, the flowers, everything. I can’t pay for any of it.”

“We’ll deal with it. Just breathe.”

Elena wiped at her cheeks and looked toward the door. Beyond it, she could hear the guests settling into their seats. The music had already begun.  

“We have to go,” Mia said gently. “Everyone is waiting.”

Elena didn’t move. Her eyes dropped to the phone still clutched in her hand. The account was almost empty. She had no explanation, no idea who had taken the money, and no time to figure it out. Then she looked at herself in the mirror—the veil, the dress, the carefully done makeup already beginning to run. For a second she wanted to take it all off and go home. But the music continued outside.

Mia squeezed her hand. “Elena.”

She closed her eyes, took a slow breath, and wiped beneath them.  

“Let’s go.”

Mia helped straighten her veil. Elena took one last look at herself before reaching for the door.

Her uncle was waiting for her at the entrance to the church.  

“There you are,” he said, smiling. “Ready?”

Elena managed a small smile and slipped her hand through his arm. The music began. They stepped inside.

For the first few seconds Elena focused on the people in the pews. She recognised neighbours, family friends, and people she had known for years. Some smiled at her. Others whispered congratulations as she passed. Then she looked ahead. Her smile disappeared.

Ethan wasn’t standing at the altar.

She kept walking, certain that she had simply missed him. Maybe he was somewhere behind the officiant. Maybe he’d come through another entrance. Maybe—

She reached the front.

There was no Ethan.

Her uncle slowed beside her. “Elena?”

She couldn’t answer. The music continued for another few seconds before fading into an uncomfortable silence. Someone shifted in their seat.

“Where’s the groom?” a woman whispered.

“I thought he was already here.”

“Maybe he’s stuck somewhere.”

“Then why hasn’t anyone heard from him?”

The whispers spread through the church, growing louder as more people began looking toward the doors. Elena stood at the altar, feeling every pair of eyes settle on her. Someone behind her murmured, “This is strange.” Another voice answered, “Maybe something happened.”

Her vision blurred. She looked toward the entrance again. Nothing. Elena became suddenly aware of all the faces turned toward her. A woman in the second row lowered her gaze, while someone near the back whispered behind a hand. Another guest shifted awkwardly in their seat. The music had stopped. No one seemed to know what to do with the silence.

Elena looked at the empty space beside the officiant, then toward the church doors. Still nothing. Her fingers tightened around the bouquet until the stems pressed into her palm. She swallowed, but the tightness in her throat wouldn’t ease. She couldn’t stand there any longer.

Elena turned abruptly and hurried down the aisle.  

“Miss Hart?”

She didn’t stop. By the time she reached the doors, she was running. Mia followed immediately.  

“Elena, wait!”

She caught up with her in the hallway and followed her into the ladies’ room, shutting the door behind them. Elena stumbled toward the mirror and gripped the counter.  

“He’s not there,” she cried.

Mia reached for her. “I know.”

“He’s not there, Mia.”

“I know.”

“And my money is gone.” Elena’s voice shook as she covered her face. “Everything is gone. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Mia pulled her into a hug. Elena cried against her shoulder, the careful makeup around her eyes beginning to run down her cheeks.  

“I don’t understand,” she whispered. “He was talking to me this morning. He was completely fine.”

Mia held her tighter. “I know.”

Elena pulled back and lifted her head. She tried to steady herself against the counter, but the room seemed to shift beneath her. She closed her eyes and took a slow breath.  

“Elena?” Mia caught her arm. “Sit down.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

Elena opened her eyes and reached for her phone. “I need to call him.”

Mia hesitated, then let her go. Elena dialled with trembling fingers. Mia watched her. The call connected almost immediately. Neither of them spoke. Then the automated voice came through.

“The number you are trying to call does not exist.”