The Seven Stages of Happily Ever After

Five

My head is buzzing. 

The wedding planner Gladys hired, Helen Maverick who I had heard of, is instructing everyone on where to stand, and what to do, and I can't focus.

Jack rests his hand on my back, rubbing slow circles to soothe me, but it's not working. That isn't even how to calm me down. All I can think about is how Jack didn't even know I was allergic to oranges, and how Luke posed as a waiter to make sure the orange chicken didn't get anywhere near me.

I keep thinking of how horrible Gladys is, and how she could someday be a grandmother to my children.

I keep thinking of how quick the relationship has been, and how I promised myself I would have a long relationship before even thinking of marriage.

I keep thinking of how Leo and Izzy feel about this relationship, and how hesitant Matt and Rachel seemed when I introduced them to Matt.

I keep thinking of how distraught my parents were in the kitchen three weeks ago, and the way Mom seems pale all the time, and Dad seems more stressed than normal.

I keep thinking of how one conversation with Luke made me feel more than five months with Jack.

I keep thinking of the night on the roof, and how I saw us with three kids, living wherever we wanted to because it didn't matter as long as I had Luke. Nothing else mattered as long as I had Luke.

"Emma," Gladys hisses my name, reminiscent of a cat, and I realize Jack is no longer beside of me. I'm standing in the middle of the aisle, and everyone's watching me. Izzy sends me a sympathetic smile, and I glance behind me, finding Matt and Leo watching me, their worry evident. Swallowing, I head to my spot beside of Dad, who seems as worried as my brother and best friends, though he tries to hide it.

He smiles at me, holding out his arm for me to slip mine through, and I almost sag against him as I do. The sudden urge to flee overtakes me, but I cling to Dad, forcing my feet to stay.

I'm overthinking it. When you know you know, and I know I want to marry Jack. We'll be happy together. I'll learn to get along with Gladys.

But at what cost.

"You alright, kiddo?" Dad whispers, his worry evident in his eyes. I nod, too quickly, not even considering his words. My heart is a million miles away, still on a doorstep in Charleston, waiting for the man who it belongs to, to collect it. I feel sick with the thought, and I shove it far away from me.

"Pre-wedding jitters." I breathe, wondering how many more excuses I can come up with in the course of the rest of my life.

I look to Jack, forcing a smile. Does he realize how unhappy I am? Does he realize that as I'm preparing to marry him, my thoughts are on another man?

I can't postpone the wedding. Too much money, and so much time have gone into it. There's over three hundred people coming, and it's going to be featured in a magazine. Jack is the most eligible bachelor in the state, and he chose me.

I want to marry him.

"You're getting married tomorrow." Izzy states, bumping my hip with hers. After the rehearsal dinner, I wandered over to the balcony attached to the back of the house to look out over the fields. I needed air. I should have known Izzy would find me; we're connected, and she's sensed my unease all night. 

When I turn to her, she frowns, reaching out to touch my arm. "Are you okay?"

Tears prick my eyes, and I nod, looking back out over the field. "I saw Luke the other day."