Chapter 4

The bridesmaid dress was still hanging beside mine, but Nina never showed up.

At 7:40, Caleb's groomsman, Yves Zimmerman, knocked on the door. The awkward look on his face told me something was wrong before he even spoke.

"Yvie..."

"What happened?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Nina's stomach problem flared up this morning, so Caleb took her to the hospital."

Every conversation in the room stopped.

Yves quickly added, "He said he'll definitely make it back before the wedding. He won't let this hold anything up."

I turned back to the mirror. My makeup was flawless, my red lipstick perfectly done.

"What time did he take her?"

"A little after six, I think."

A little after six.

My makeup artist had already been working on me by then. Caleb should have been getting dressed too, ready to come pick me up for our wedding.

My phone rang before I could say anything else. It was Caleb.

"Yvie, Nina's condition got pretty bad. I'm taking her to the hospital, but as soon as I get her settled, I'll come straight back."

"Okay."

My answer must have surprised him because he went quiet for a couple of seconds before saying, "I won't be late for the wedding. Just wait for me."

I'd spent years waiting for Caleb. I waited for him to get off work, for him to finally have time for me, for the birthday celebrations he promised to make up later. More than anything, I'd waited for him to choose me over Nina just once.

Now he expected me to wait for him on our wedding day too.

This time, I didn't have to.

I ended the call, and Yves let out a relieved breath beside me.

"Don't be mad at him, Yvie. Caleb didn't really have a choice. Nina's at the hospital alone. He couldn't just leave her there."

"Of course he can stay with her."

Yves looked at me, confused.

I kept my voice even. "That doesn't mean I have to wait for him."

He clearly thought I was only saying it because I was angry.

By eight, Caleb still hadn't arrived, and the time he was supposed to come get me was almost gone. Yves had started pacing outside the room with his phone pressed to his ear.

"Why isn't he answering?"

He tried again, but the call went unanswered. With every passing minute, his expression grew more strained.

Eventually, he came back into the room and forced a smile. "How about we give him another ten minutes? Caleb has to be almost here."

I didn't answer.

Before he could say anything else, excited voices suddenly broke out in the hallway.

"The groom's party is here!"

...

At the hospital, Caleb's phone had already rung several times.

Nina was still holding tightly to his hand, but worry had begun to show on his face.

"Nina, if you're feeling okay now, get some rest. I need to go. Yvie's still waiting for me."

"Caleb!"

He stopped.

Nina looked up at him, her voice trembling. "What if I told you I regret it?"

"What?"

"What if I'd said yes when you proposed to me back then?" Her grip tightened around his hand. "Would I be the one standing beside you today?"

Caleb went still.

He remembered that night years ago, when Nina had cried as she turned him down.

"Caleb, I'm sorry. I'm just not ready to get married."

Later, he met Yvie Lane.

She was gentle and steady, and life with her felt good. He'd thought there was nothing wrong with spending the rest of their lives that way.

Now Nina was telling him she regretted saying no.

For a moment, Caleb couldn't make sense of what he was feeling. Then he glanced at his phone and saw the time.

8:10.

He was already past the time he was supposed to pick Yvie up.

Panic hit him all at once. He pulled his hand free from Nina's, told her, "Stop this," and rushed out of the room.

He called Yves as he ran.

"Yves, tell Yvie I'm on my way back right now."

The line was filled with noise, and when Yves finally answered, his voice was shaking.

"Back for what, Caleb? Yvie's already marrying another man."