Page 98 of On the Rocks

Pastor Morris stood at the altar now, smiling, his eyes scanning the crowd as he nodded silent hello’s. Ruby Grace’s mother was escorted down the aisle by an usher, but Anthony’s parents were nowhere to be found. I frowned, wondering where they were, but didn’t have time to process it much before a door opened to the right.

Anthony walked through it, along with some guy I didn’t recognize. He stood next to Anthony and Pastor Morris at the altar, which told me he was the best man, but I couldn’t keep my focus there for very long.

Because it took every ounce of willpower I possessed not to fly down the aisle right then and pummel Anthony’s grinning face with my fist.

He stood tall and confident at the altar, wearing a light gray tuxedo with a coral pocket square and bow tie. His hair was neat and styled, his jaw freshly shaved, and to anyone else in that church, he looked like the perfect groom. He looked like what every girl had ever dreamed of when they pictured their wedding day.

But I knew the truth.

I knew the evil things he’d said about the best woman in the world, knew the pain he’d caused her, the way he’d treated her like some pawn in his game of life.

And now, thanks to Betty, I knew about the deal he and his father had made with Ruby Grace’s parents.

That was what upset me the most. Anthony may not have owed Ruby Grace anything, but the fact that her parents could trade her hand in marriage in exchange for some debt to be paid off made me physically ill.

My fists tightened around the wedding program, all but crushing it. A couple I didn’t recognize in the same pew as me eyed the crumpled up piece of paper in my hands before casting me a worried glance, to which I just offered a tight smile, relaxing my shoulders a bit.

Breathe, Noah.

A flower girl was the first down the aisle, and she sprinkled daisy petals behind her, smiling shyly at everyone in the pews.

Next was Mary Anne. Even though she’d been gone for a few years, it was impossible not to recognize her. She had the same red hair as her mother and sister, the same button nose, the same freckles dotting her cheeks. She was taller than Ruby Grace, though, and her features were less bold, somehow. She looked older than she actually was, but when she smiled, I saw the resemblance like they were twins.

The last one down the aisle before the bride was Annie, the flowers in her hands balanced on the swell of her belly in the creamy, coral dress that she wore. Her smile was sad, though she tried to brighten it as much as she possibly could as she scanned the pews. I kept my eyes on her, heart thundering as I realized who would be the next down the aisle.

When Annie reached the altar, she turned.

And her eyes locked on me.

She paled, her pink-painted mouth popping open just as the organ changed tune and the congregation stood.

All the blood rushed to my face before draining completely as I numbly rose to my feet, turning to face the back of the aisle along with everyone else. The organ played, and I adjusted my tie, forcing one calm, cooling breath as the doors to the church swung open.

The first thing I saw was a long, slender hand clutching the grey fabric of a tuxedo-clad arm. Her nails were painted a neutral pink, the tips white, and she held onto that arm like it was the only thing holding her to the Earth.

One step, and then I saw the long, flowy, cream skirt of her dress, outlined by the leg she’d taken the step with.

Another step, and the bouquet I’d helped her decide on came into view — a brilliant gathering of daisies and roses, surrounded by fresh baby’s breath and dusty miller.

Three steps.

That was how long I was able to keep breath flowing into my lungs.

That was how long I was able to keep blood pumping to my organs.

Because on the fourth step, Ruby Grace came completely into view, and everything stopped.

The time that had stretched and warped as I waited in the church before the wedding began paused altogether, the music fading, lights dimming except where they shone on her. I didn’t even notice her father, the arm that she clung to — not when she was in full view. It was all I could do to take all of her in, every inch of her glowing beauty wrapped in that silky, cream wedding dress. Her cheeks were high and rosy, her lips painted a dusty rose, the freckles from our days in the sun breaking through the foundation that powdered her face. Her long, copper hair was braided on each side, the length of it twisted and tied in a knot at the back just below where her veil sat like a halo. Those hazel eyes I’d loved to stare into all summer were as bright and golden as the sun that peaked in behind her before the church doors shut again, and it was as if that sound slammed me back to reality, slammed time back into motion, slammed my heart back into its race within my rib cage.

I didn’t even notice her dress.

I didn’t care.

Because it was that woman I was here for, not the dress she wore — and if I had it my way, if everything worked the way I hoped, that dress wouldn’t mean anything after today, anyway.

Ruby Grace wore the same solemn smile as Annie had as she walked down the aisle, slowly, her father rubbing his hand over where she held his arm in assurance. With his face ashen and long, I wasn’t sure if was assuring her or himself.

Ruby Grace didn’t notice me as she walked by. In fact, she seemed to be in some sort of daze, some sort of dream.