So Eva stayed where she was, exactly where she was supposed to be, hands clasped, expression neutral.
And she watched, unable to look away, as Maddy reached Adam.
Thirty-Seven
Maddy stepped into the hallway where her mother waited. She took Maddy’s arm with a pat and a smile and gently guided her to the entrance of the ceremony hall. Mary and Hanna fell into place behind them, and they were off, walking slowly to the strains of ‘Ave Maria.’
Faces drifted by: cousins, uncles, friends of friends, strangers. A man from Adam’s office who had once explained cryptocurrency to Maddy for forty straight minutes over dinner. A second cousin already crying theatrically into her sleeve. A small child—possibly her uncle’s second cousin’s nephew—lying face down across three chairs in formalwear like a tiny, exhausted businessman.
Great Aunt Margaret, still going strong. Aria, hands clasped in delight. Adam’s mum and dad, both looking as though they’d dressed for a royal wedding by mistake.
And Adam, getting closer, waiting.
She reached the front. ‘Ave Maria’ faded. Her hands trembled slightly as she faced Adam.
Adam reached out and lifted her veil. Then he frowned lightly and reached forward, rubbing something just below her lip. ‘Little smear,’ he whispered.
Maddy smiled as widely as she could in a way that she hoped implied that she had not been unfaithful seconds ago and was totally up for getting hitched.
The officiant began speaking. Words about commitment and partnership filled the room. Maddy tried to listen, but her mind was scattered. What was she doing? What had she done? She could blame Eva, but she knew that was unfair. She could have stopped it. She wanted it. She wanted every second of Eva kissing her.
Her eyes flicked toward the back of the room and found Eva, her face an unreadable mask.
Then she turned quickly back to Adam. Now was the moment. It was coming; she had to say yes. It didn’t matter if she didn’t feel it. It didn’t matter if she wanted to run. It didn’t matter that her whole body was on fire from Eva’s kiss.
She had no choice. She had made a commitment, and she had to see it through. She couldn’t have Eva. She couldn’t! She was getting married! Right bloody now!
‘And do you, Maddy…’
Here it came. She was getting wed and she could never see Eva again. This feeling, this pull, couldn’t be allowed to exist. She couldn’t feel this…
This love.
‘…Take Adam.’
Maddy closed her eyes.
And then the ceiling came in.
Thirty-Eight
Eva didn’t look away. This was the consequence.
She had kissed Maddy twice now, and now she was going to watch her marry someone else. She deserved to watch it happen. Deserved to feel every second of it.
Maddy stood at the altar, radiant and trembling, her bouquet held just a little too tightly. What was she feeling? Eva couldn’t be sure. She wanted to think it was uncertainty. She wanted to think she mattered to Maddy. It was a selfish feeling. She shouldn’t want to ruin her life like this. She should want this to work for Maddy.
Because she was in love with her.
The officiant cleared her throat, preparing to finish the question. Eva couldn’t help but close her eyes as she said, ‘And do you, Maddy…’
A sound like something tearing itself apart exploded above them.
Eva flinched. The entire room jolted. Gasps rippled through the guests. The officiant froze mid-sentence. Adam looked around, startled. Maddy blinked, disoriented.
The sound came again, louder this time. A deep, grinding groan reverberated through the ceiling.
Eva’s head snapped upward. She saw it before anyone else did, the fracture spreading across the plaster ceiling, a spiderweb racing outward.
