Ten minutes before our wedding, I heard my fiancé tell his sister, “Don’t worry about daycare anymore. Natalie will take care of all three kids starting Monday.”

Paige sat beside me while Mom contacted the reception coordinator.

The food was already prepared. Some could be packed and donated if arrangements were possible, but most deposits were nonrefundable.

We’d already paid for the flowers, and the cake was waiting at the reception venue.

The financial aftermath would take weeks to resolve.

My phone buzzed repeatedly.

One cousin asked whether I was okay. An aunt wondered whether there’d been an emergency. Someone from Seth’s family insisted that couples always disagreed and I shouldn’t make a permanent choice while upset.

I switched my phone off.

Paige helped remove my veil, needing three attempts to loosen a stubborn pin without pulling my hair.

We remained silent until she finished.

Then she whispered, “You know you can be sad about this and still be right.”

I cried even harder.

Roughly forty minutes later, Paige brought my car to a side entrance.