CHAPTER11
The church was lovely, with a few stained-glass windows and a red brick exterior. Megan had driven by herself, after a feigned excuse about a quick errand. She’d left ten minutes before they were all supposed to leave.
It was a beautiful summer day, if hot. The blue sky dotted with white clouds over the top of the pretty church was so picturesque it felt like a mockery of her pain. As if the universe simply did not care about her broken heart. Rude.
The inside of her car was cool, and she spent the extra few minutes of alone time doing some deep breathing.
One by one, the others arrived, and Megan stepped out to meet everyone and go inside. Caleb tried to catch her arm, but Megan dodged him and climbed the few steps into the building.
Rose gathered everyone inside and introduced Pastor Melissa, who wore a long black skirt and tank top that showed off the multiple tattoos on her arms. Megan didn’t recognize her, though that didn’t say much because her attendance at services had lapsed a long time ago.
“Melissa is the new lead pastor,” Rose explained.
Melissa smiled, and Megan liked her immediately. An aura of calm authority emanated from the woman, and everyone in the bridal party quieted down.
“Welcome to the Starfire Lake Church. As Rose said, I’m Pastor Melissa, but I usually go by Mellie. We’re going to keep this quick and simple. Can everyone head to the back of the Sanctuary and line up in your procession order, please? We’re going to practice walking in a straight line, and we’re all going to pretend like we’ve done this sober many times.”
Rose spoke up. “Oh, right. We changed the partners around. Tyler, you’re now with Ainsley, and Caleb, you’re with Megan. Theresa you’re still with Matthew, and Tucker and Rebecca – you’re still paired up.”
Pastor Mellie looked at everyone, and when nobody moved, said, “Okay, kids, time to line up.”
Caleb to her right, Megan stood behind Rebecca and watched as Pastor Mellie helped Rose decide the final order of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. She instructed them to stay put and went to speak to both sets of parents about their roles.
Caleb shifted his weight and dropped his head to whisper, “Can we please talk, Megs?”
“There is nothing to talk about, so, no,” she whispered back.
“I disagree.”
She rolled her eyes. “You would.”
“What does that mean?”
Megan almost, almost launched into a tirade that spelled out exactly how entitled and selfish he was being by requesting more of her time and emotional labor but stopped herself.
It was the wrong time and definitely the wrong place for any kind of conversation between them.
“Focus on the rehearsal, okay?”
“And then you’ll talk to me?”
Megan thought she heard desperation in his voice.
“No,” Tucker cut in. He turned to face Caleb. “Are you seriously bothering her right now?”
Megan stepped between them, her back to Caleb. “Youdon’t get to say anything right now either, Tucker. Do not, for the love of – well, God, make a scene in this church during Rose’s rehearsal or I’ll tell Dad whatactuallyhappened to his Mustang.”
Tucker’s face blanched. He gave Caleb another glare and resumed his post next to Rebecca. Megan stepped back to her place in line and continued to ignore Caleb’s existence except when absolutely necessary.
Maybe she should tell her dad that his beloved 1987 Mustang ended up in the lake not because of joyriding thieves but Tucker. She passed the time contemplating the different ways her dad would skin Tucker. It was enough distraction to get her through the rehearsal, but every time she held Caleb’s arm as they all practiced the processional, her skin burned.
Dinner at the farmhouse would be its own challenge, but one step at a time. Literally, it seemed.
Rose’s parents had dinner catered to the farmhouse by the restaurant Megan worked for, Stardust Restaurant.
The caterers arrived not long after everyone got back from the rehearsal, and dinner was a delicious spread of carved meats, pasta, chicken dishes, and sides. Megan’s plan was to make her escape right after dessert, which was a tier of cupcakes of varying flavors, but all decorated with lavender buttercream and edible glitter.
Megan had gone over the design with Rose last week to confirm everything but hadn’t actually made any of the desserts. She checked on them before dinner was over, and they were beautiful.
