My mother and father were gone. Their seats were empty, except for my mother’s beaded purse, lying on the floor where she’d dropped it.
Paige was gone too. Her husband Graham was standing in the aisle, looking back and forth between the side door and his seat, like he didn’t know which way to go.
But Lauren was still there.
She was sitting down now, alone, with her hands in her lap. She was staring at the floor. Her husband Colby was whispering something to her, and she wasn’t answering.
Father Dominic cleared his throat. He looked at me over his glasses.
“Shall we begin again, Emma?”
“Yes, Father,” I said. “Please.”
I don’t remember all the words. I remember Daniel’s hands were warm and steady. I remember his voice shook when he said his vows, and he had to stop and start again. I remember the sunlight through the stained glass made colored squares on the floor.
