Chapter 2

The next day at ten fifty, I went downstairs to wait for them.

The living room was empty.

I called Mom. No answer. Lily didn’t reply either.

At eleven ten, she posted a photo.

She was in a white gown, standing between our parents. Rowan leaned against Dad, holding the bouquet I’d ordered.

All four of them were smiling.

The caption read: “Everyone’s here.”

I stared at the photo for a few seconds, then called the bridal shop.

The clerk sounded surprised.

“Miss Claire, your sister moved the appointment up to nine. She said you knew. We thought something came up.”

“They’ve already left?”

“Just left. Your sister tried on two dresses for you. She said she’d show you the photos when she got back.”

“What about my dress?”

“It’s still here. When would you like to come in?”

I looked at the appointment slip on the table. It had the time I’d confirmed three times.

“No need to reschedule. I’ll reach out later.”

At noon, Mom came back carrying a gift bag from the bridal shop.

“Why are you still home?”

“You said we’d leave together at eleven.”

“Lily said it’d be less crowded earlier, so we changed it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Mom set the bag down.

“She thought you knew. And it’s not like your dress is missing.”

Dad came in behind her.

“You can try it on next time. No need to make everyone unhappy over something so small.”

Lily peeked out from behind him.

“Did you see the photos? Rowan said that dress looks amazing on me.”

As she spoke, the pendant on her chest swayed.

It was the moonstone necklace Rowan had given me last year.

“You went into my room?”

“Just borrowing a necklace.” She touched the pendant. “You haven’t worn it in forever.”

“Give it back.”

“I have a date tonight. I’ll take it off and give it back after.”

I reached for it. She stepped back behind Mom.

Mom blocked me.

“Don’t yank it and break it. It’s not like she said she won’t give it back.”

Rowan came in last and put the car keys on the table.

I asked him, “Do you remember this necklace?”

He looked at it for a few seconds.

“Which one?”

Lily pinched the pendant and showed him.

Then it came back to him.

“Oh, that one from last year. Let her wear it for a day. It goes well with her dress.”

When I got it last year, I took a dozen photos and set the best one as my phone background.

He’d even said he’d never seen me love a gift so much.

I pulled my hand back.

“Put it back where it belongs tonight.”

Back in my room, the official project onboarding documents had arrived.

I signed my name, booked a ticket for two days later, and pulled my suitcase out from under the bed.

Documents, my work laptop, and my sketchbook went in first.

While sorting winter clothes, I found a scarf. I’d originally planned to wear it on my honeymoon. The tag was still on.

I cut off the tag and rolled it into my luggage.

Mom pushed the door open. When she saw the suitcase, her expression softened.

“Getting ready to move in with Rowan?”

I was double-checking the housing address and didn’t answer.

She took the never-worn beige coat off the rack.

“Give this to Lily. She’s been needing this color lately.”

“Give it to her.”

“That’s more like it. You’re sisters.”

She draped the coat over her arm and reminded me not to forget a gift for Rowan’s family.

After the door closed, I put the housing confirmation into a folder.

The move-in date was two days from now.

The location was Northhaven, over six hundred miles away.

I tucked the folder into my carry bag and opened the other half of the closet.