Page 144 of All This Time

Me:Well… Tori left.

Fletcher:What?Why?

Me:I don’t know, but she was with some guy outside, and then they disappeared. You need to stay with him and keep him distracted until we figure out what’s happening.

There’s a knock on the door, and Rhonan steps in. “Hey. What’s going on? Anabell wanted me to check on everyone to make sure we can start on time.”

Dilynne pounds her fist into her other palm. “Tori fucking walked out on the wedding. I swear, if I ever see her again, she’s gonna wish a house had fallen on her instead of my fist falling on her face.”

I place my hand on her shoulder. “What if we’re missing something?”

She turns to me, exasperated. “What could we possibly be missing? She was kissing that guy, Laney. That doesn’t exactly bode well for the whole marriage thing.”

Rhonan places his hands on his hips. “Jesus Christ. Has anyone told Elliot?”

My heart sinks even further in my chest. “I don’t want to go there yet. I feel like we’re missing something.” I turn to my brother. “Did you ever run that background check?”

“No.”

“How long would it take?”

“Not very long. Why?”

“Maybe there’s something in there that will help us figure out where she’d go? Or at least, who this guy is?”

Dilynne shrugs. “It’s not going to change anything. She’s the scum of the earth as far as I’m concerned.” Growling, she says, “God, I knew I was right about her.”

“Okay.” Rhonan fixes his cufflinks. “I’ll see what I can find.”

“Thank you. And Henley? Please go check their house.”

Henley shakes his head. “I don’t think she’s there.”

Dilynne snaps her fingers in front of his face. “We don’t care what you think. Just go!”

Henley snaps his fingers in front of his sister’s face. “No need for the fucking attitude.”

“You started it!”

“Did not!”

“Did too!”

I shove them away from each other. “For the love of God, can you two not fight just this one day, please? I can’t deal with your childish behavior on top of everything else.”

Dilynne snaps her fingers at Henley again. “You heard the woman. Now go.”

“Jesus Christ,” Henley mutters as he walks out of the room. Dilynne and I follow him into the hall.

Dilynne turns to me. “Elliot doesn’t deserve this.”

“I agree. But it’s gonna be okay, right?”

“How can you say that?”

Shrugging, I reply, “It’s just the right thing to say in a time like this.”

Ellis runs up to us, her tiny dress shoes clicking on the tile beneath her. Her white princess dress bounces with each step. “Auntie Laney! Is it time for me to throw the flowers yet?”