Then I faced the altar once again and resumed walking.
Only this time, I wasn’t alone.
Marcus quietly stepped aside, and the others in gray adjusted their positions, forming an unspoken honor guard along both sides of the aisle. No one coordinated it. No announcement was made. They simply stood proudly and gave us a path.
When I reached the altar, Ethan took both of my hands.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Don’t apologize for telling the truth.”
“I should have told you sooner.”
“Yes,” I answered honestly. “You should have.”
His shoulders dropped.
“But I also know why you were afraid.” I glanced toward the chapel entrance. “You thought my father would make me choose.”
He nodded.
“He already did,” I replied. “Just not the way he expected.”
Pastor Mitchell cleared his throat before beginning again, sounding steadier than anyone else present.
The ceremony wasn’t flawless.
