Fiance Next Door

God, give me strength.

I go through the side door so the organ won’t start playing. I still manage to get everyone’s attention, though. I can feel all their gazes on me as I walk briskly towards the altar, as briskly as I can in my two-inch sandals, which clatter on the marble above the increasing murmur. I can’t blame them. They’ve been waiting for someone in a white dress to show up, and now that someone has and it’s not the bride, they can’t keep their speculations to themselves any longer.

Mason runs to the side to meet me. He places his hand on my arm.

“What’s going on, Aster?”

“I…”

I pause because I need a moment to catch my breath, but it escapes me as I gaze at Mason. He’s shaved, and his chin looks more square now, more rigid. His hair is combed back, every strand held in place by a sheen of gel. His shoulders look broader, his arms thicker under the crisp midnight blue jacket of his suit.

I saw him wearing a suit in a Forbes article once and I thought he looked good in one. Damn, was I right.

He smells good, too, I think as I catch a whiff of his cologne. Armani? Dior? Creed? I don’t really know anything about men’s cologne, but this one smells… fresh. It transports me to an Alpine meadow.

“Is everything alright?” Bill pulls me back to reality as he stands beside Mason. Pastor Dan is with him.

The concern in his eyes makes me draw another deep breath before I speak.

“I’m afraid Giselle isn’t here.”

Bill falls silent. The quiet anguish that quickly creeps over his features breaks my heart.

“Sorry, Bill.”

“Do you mean she’s not here yet?” Pastor Dan asks. “That she’s running late? She’s still coming, right?”

I sigh. “Leander is still looking for her.”

The pastor’s eyes narrow. “You mean she’s missing?”

I nod. Pastor Dan gives a soft gasp and clutches his prayer book to his chest as his gaze drops to the floor. Bill walks away. I start to follow him but Mason squeezes my arm.

“Just let him go.”

I give him a questioning look. “What if he leaves? What if Giselle shows up and he’s not here anymore?”

“She’s not going to show up,” Mason says.

My eyes narrow. What? How can he say that? Why does he sound so sure?

“Did she say anything to you?” I ask him.

“No,” he answers. “But I know my sister. If she wanted to be here, she’d be here by now. Bill knows it, too. That’s why he’s leaving.”

I shake my head. “But Leander is still looking for her. He might be able to change her mind.”

“She already has.”

“Then maybe she’ll change it again. Maybe Leander can convince her.”

“You think?” Mason asks me.

I shrug. “I just can’t believe she’d do this. She’s not someone who gives up on things easily, right?”

“Not easily,” Mason agrees. “But she does know when to give up, and when she does, she doesn’t go back. Giselle isn’t coming back, Aster.”

My shoulders sink. So it’s just as I feared.

I glance at the crowd. They’re still looking at me. And Mason. I can see the look of concern in their eyes, of anticipation. I meet my father’s gaze and a moment later he lowers his camera, letting me know that he understands what’s going on.

I frown. Another person let down. And dozens more to go.

“We should tell them,” I say. “They’re expecting a wedding. They deserve to know if there isn’t one.”

Mason nods. “We should.”

He leads me back to the altar and clears his throat. “Everyone, may I have your attention please?”

The crowd falls silent, all eyes on us.

“Go on,” Mason urges in my ear.

I look at him with wide eyes. Wouldn’t it be better if he were the one who broke the bad news? After all, he is Giselle’s brother, and unlike me, he doesn’t seem the least bit nervous standing in front of an audience. Then again, I suppose I was the one who volunteered.

I turn to the crowd and hold my shoulders square. “Good morning, everyone. And thank you for coming. I… I know that all of you came here to see Giselle and Bill get married, and I’m sure the Burke family is grateful for your presence.”

I glance at Mason, who nods. “We are.”

I draw a breath. “And I’m sorry that all of you have been waiting…”

“Where’s Giselle?” a man I don’t recognize interrupts from the fourth row.

“Let her finish,” Mason tells him.

Then he looks at me and gives me another nod.

“I know you’ve all been waiting for some time now,” I go on. “But Giselle Burke, the bride, is… isn’t here.”

Gasps erupt among the crowd.

“As you all know, a bride and groom are necessary for a wedding, so since Giselle didn’t show up, I’m afraid there isn’t going to be one. Again, I’m so – ”