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“More than wow, little sister. You’re going to dazzle,” Betsy said, squeezing her shoulders from behind.

She turned to Betsy, who had misted up. “Thank you, Bets.”

“I mean it.” A pause. “You okay?”

She nodded. “I am.”

The next forty-five minutes seemed to fly in a series of shutter clicks from the photographers’ cameras in various parts of the hotel, until they were moments away from the ceremony and the biggest moment of her life. She’d seen a serene little garden on the grounds earlier and had a thought.

“Jason?” she asked.

“What can I get for you?” he asked. “I have about five minutes before I head to the ceremony to get prepped.”

“Perfectly fine. I’m going to catch my breath in the little garden near the front. Is that all right?”

His brow creased. “The guests might see you.”

“I won’t be long. I really need a private minute to clear my head.” She needed a pep talk, is what she needed. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her. More so with each passing second.

Jason nodded, and while the photographers worked with her cousins on her father’s side, she slipped away, mindful of the time. Ashort elevator ride and a couple of hallways with impressive ceilings led her to the outdoor sitting area she’d seen earlier. Lots of greenery, bright flowers in pinks and yellows flanking the space. Once she was alone with the fresh air on her skin, she closed her eyes and let the sunshine fall on her face. There it was just like always, ready to comfort her and guide her on this journey. The warmth on her skin grounded her, and she could, at long last, breathe. She savored the relief of air to her lungs.

“You look beautiful.”

She didn’t open her eyes. She knew the voice and had to be imagining it. Megan had shown up in her dreams most every night since they’d said good-bye. Of course she’d find a way into Ally’s thoughts now. Of course. But when she opened her eyes, the startling reality was that she hadn’t imagined the words at all. Incomprehensibly, there she stood. Right there in front of Allison. Not a mirage, not a dream. She wore jeans and a soft purple T-shirt.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Allison’s heart jackhammered, and her thoughts were all but suspended. Her world, the serenity from moments before, had just been tossed in the air.

Finally, Megan held out a hand. “I’m not here to upset you. I don’t want to do that, especially not today.”

“Then why are you here?” she managed to say. “I’m gettingmarried.”

Megan took a deep breath. “I know. And I shouldn’t have waited so long.” She closed her eyes. “I tried. I did. I just couldn’t…” She opened her eyes again, and Allison’s resolve shook at the sight of them. Big, brown, and expressive. She used to get lost in their depths and loved it.

“You tried to…what?” Allison asked, searching her face for some kind of clue or explanation as to exactly what was happening, because there was no sound reason for Megan’s presence here.

“I was a coward,” Megan said simply. “I was so scared of what I was feeling, what it meant, and how much I had to lose that I ran from the one person I never should have run away from.”

“No. You don’t get to come here and say that.”

Megan held up her hand. “I was so caught up believing that you were moments away from running back to Brent at any given secondthat I held myself back from you, and there was a lot you didn’t get to hear, to know.”

Allison pinched the bridge of her nose. This wasn’t happening.

“But the truth of the matter is that the last thing I wanted was to lose you. I woke up terrified every day until I finally convinced myself that stepping back was the right thing to do.”

“Yet here you stand.” It was an accusation. “I’m not doing this, Megan. I can’t. I’m moving on. This isn’t fair of you, to show up like this.”

Megan’s gaze fell to the ground in defeat. “I know. Trust me, I’m well aware, but I couldn’t let you walk down the aisle and pledge your life to someone else until you knew the truth. I fell in love with you, Allison. I knew it back then, and I know it even more now. I miss your smile, our talks, your touch. In fact, I’ve been just sick without you.”

Allison stared at her, attempting to process the words she’d longed to hear for so long. Megan loved her. But they felt all wrong now. They were here too late, and so was Megan. “You should go.”

Megan nodded, tears filling her eyes. “Yeah, I guess so.” She turned down the stone pathway that led out of the garden to the front of the hotel. Allison watched her go, making peace with her decision, because dammit, it was the right one. Love was one thing, but stability was something else entirely.

She nodded to herself, set on her path and ready to begin the rest of her life.

She picked up her train, and with one last moment alone with the sun, she took a deep breath and headed off to find Jason and get this show on the road. It was almost time.

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