Reverend Thomas suggested moving into the bridal room, and Mom arrived a minute later.
She stopped upon seeing me.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
Explaining meant admitting that the man I’d trusted had secretly made decisions about my entire future.
I sat beside the mirror.
“I can’t marry him.”
Mom’s eyes filled with tears.
“Did something happen?”
I nodded.
She sat next to me.
“Do you want to tell me?”
“Not right now.”
She held my hand.
“Okay.”
Nothing else.
She didn’t mention the wedding expenses or our waiting relatives.
She simply accepted my answer.
For the first time that afternoon, I broke down crying.
Seth appeared in the doorway.
“Can I please talk to my fiancée?”
Mom stood.
“She said she doesn’t want to talk right now.”
He looked past her.
“Natalie, you’re throwing away three years.”
I wiped my cheeks.
“I’m not the one who did that.”
