“Three years should’ve taught you that June isn’t someone I put aside to satisfy everyone else’s expectations.”

I turned toward Renee.

“Could you drive us home?”

She nodded.

“Absolutely.”

Colin moved closer.

“What about the reception? The catering? All those deposits?”

“We’ll settle my portion of the expenses later.”

“Paige—”

“Not today.”

I opened the door.

Beth stood in the hallway.

She looked between June and me.

“Is she alright?”

“She will be.”

Beth seemed confused.

“Can I do anything?”

I shook my head.

“Just tell Harper she hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Beth nodded.

“Okay.”

We exited through the garden entrance.

Renee went to retrieve the car while June and I waited beneath a covered walkway.

Sunlight filled the afternoon. Birds chirped in the trees. Voices drifted from inside the building.

It felt strange that everything around us could appear so normal.

June stood quietly beside me.

“Mom?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Are you angry with me?”

I turned so quickly I nearly stumbled over my gown.

“Never.”

“But you didn’t get married.”

I knelt before her.

“Listen carefully. I didn’t cancel the wedding because you told me what happened.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I canceled it because Colin made choices that hurt your feelings, and I couldn’t trust him to respect you the way you deserve.”

She wiped her cheek.

“But you love him.”

I swallowed.

“Yes.”

“Then why can’t you forgive him?”

Because forgiveness wasn’t necessarily the issue. Because I’d discovered how he behaved when he believed I wouldn’t find out. Because he’d made decisions about my daughter’s future without discussing them with me.

But June didn’t need every explanation.

She needed something simple and true.

“Because loving someone doesn’t mean you must marry them.”

She studied my face.

Then whispered, “I really thought he wanted to become my stepdad.”

My heart ached.

“I thought so too, sweetheart.”

Renee arrived with the car.

I helped June into the back seat.

Before joining her, I glanced toward the building.

Colin stood near the entrance.

He made no attempt to follow us.

He simply watched.

I climbed inside and shut the door.

For the first time that day, I felt no need to justify my decision.

Once home, June went directly to her bedroom.

I removed my wedding gown and hung it in the closet.

My hair remained perfectly curled.

My makeup was untouched.

Forty-seven unread messages waited on my phone.

I couldn’t bring myself to respond.

Renee stayed until she’d made sure we had something to eat and that I wouldn’t spend the entire evening sitting alone in the kitchen.

Then she embraced me and went home.

Around seven, June came downstairs.

She wore pajamas and carried her lavender dress.

“Can we keep this?” she asked.

“Of course.”

“Even though we never used it?”

I looked at the dress.

“Absolutely. It’s yours.”

She nodded and returned upstairs.

I believed the hardest part of the day was behind us.

I was mistaken.

Chapter 6 — What He Told Everyone

Beth called the following morning.

I nearly ignored her.

She was Colin’s sister.

I’d always liked her, but I wasn’t prepared to hear his family argue that I’d overreacted.

Then a message appeared.

Paige, I owe you an apology. There’s something important you need to know about yesterday.

I called her.

“Beth?”

“Are you home?”

“Yes.”

“Could I stop by briefly?”

“What’s going on?”

She hesitated.

“June.”

That was enough.

Beth arrived twenty minutes later.

She carried a small paper bag and looked exhausted.

We sat at the kitchen table while June watched television nearby.

Beth placed the bag between us.

“My mother bought June something.”

She opened it.

Inside lay a delicate silver bracelet.

A lavender-colored stone hung in the center.

Beside it was a tiny letter J.

“Mom wanted to give this to June before the ceremony,” Beth explained. “She thought it would be a lovely way to officially welcome her into our family.”

I stared at the bracelet.

“Colin told me your parents didn’t want June participating.”

Beth frowned.

“What?”

“He said they were traditional. That having my daughter from my previous marriage escort me would make them uncomfortable.”

Beth looked stunned.

“Paige, Mom loved that idea.”

I remained silent.

“She thought it was wonderful. She’d never seen a bride escorted by her daughter, but she was genuinely excited.”

I glanced at the bracelet.

“Colin said your parents wouldn’t approve.”

Beth shook her head.

“No. Mom even asked whether she could present June with the bracelet during the ceremony.”

“What did Colin say?”

“He told her you’d prefer keeping June’s involvement private because you didn’t want problems with Owen.”

I stared.

“My former husband?”

Beth nodded.

“That’s what he claimed.”

Owen had known about the ceremony for months.

He’d even helped June practice walking without staring at her shoes.

He’d never objected.

Beth clasped her hands.

“After the wedding was canceled, Colin told everyone you became upset because June changed her mind about participating.”

Of course.

“He said wedding stress made you take it personally.”

I felt my frustration returning.

But Beth continued.

“I believed him for about ten minutes.”

“What made you question it?”

“Mom asked where June was.”

I frowned.

“She was with me.”

“I know. But Mom mentioned how excited June had been. Colin replied that June needed to understand not every family celebration should revolve around her.”

I closed my eyes.

Beth spoke softly.

“That didn’t sound like June I know.”

I looked up.

Beth glanced toward the living room.

“Paige, did Colin ever discuss June spending more weekends with Owen after your marriage?”

My stomach tightened.

“No.”

Beth picked up her phone.

“There’s something you need to see.”

She opened their family group chat.

The conversation included Colin, Beth, their parents, and Marcus.

One message dated three weeks earlier caught my attention.

After the wedding, Paige and I are considering having June spend additional weekends with Owen. That’ll give us time to adjust to married life. She’s getting older and understands couples need personal space.