Page 132 of Vow

Luck, probably.

Or the universe was giving her another sign.

This day was meant to happen. Andino had always meant to be hers. Haven couldn’t wait to keep him. Forever.

Kim was just finishing doing up the last of the small buttons on the back of Haven’s dress when Catherine entered the room again. She knew just by the look on the woman’s face that … something was up.

“What is it?” Haven asked.

Catherine flashed Haven’s phone. “There’s a couple missed calls from your dad. Voicemails, too.”

Of course.

Because her dad still didn’t understand the concept of texting. Hated it, really. It amused Haven to no end, but not today.

“Let me see,” she said, holding her hand out.

Catherine was quick to hand the phone over. Haven wasted no time unlocking the screen, and dialing the voicemail. She listened to her father explain that he needed her to call him as soon as she possibly could.

Haven’s heart sunk a little lower.

She should have kept her phone on her—someone else took it away because no distractions. This day was supposed to be for her and Andino, and nothing else mattered.

Her father picked up on the second ring with an instant, “I am so sorry, baby.”

Haven blinked, aware that everyone in the room was watching her all of the sudden. She didn’t mind attention, usually, but she had a feeling whatever her father was apologizing for wasn’t going to leave her very happy.

“For what?” Haven asked.

In the background of the call, she could hear muffled voices complaining, and getting louder with every passing second.

“The plane had an engine issue as we were taxing out to the runway,” her father explained. “They couldn’t get another one on standby. I won’t be taking off for another hour or more. I’m not going to—”

“Make it in time,” Haven whispered.

She wasn’t really the kind of woman who cried, and yet, the sharp realization that neither of her parents would be there on her wedding day was the heaviest weight sitting on her chest all of the sudden. She felt the telltale prickle behind her eyes that said tears were threatening to fall.

She didn’t want her father to know that, though.

“I’ll be there in time for the dinner, at least,” he said. “I am sorry. I wanted to be there. Your mom, too.”

“I know, Daddy. It’s okay.”

“It’s not,” he muttered thickly. “I’m supposed to walk you down the aisle. That’s what father’s do. That’s what I wanted to do, Haven. You only get married once.”

She laughed, but it sounded weak. “Maybe we’ll do this again, then, in a few years just so you can walk me down the aisle.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“I know. Please don’t feel bad, okay?”

“All right. Still will, though.”

No doubt.

Across from her, Kim mouthed, “Get the new flight time.”

Haven repeated the question to her father, and once he rattled off the approximate time, she gave it to Kim. She turned her back then to the other women so that she could privately say goodbye to her father. She still had to finish getting ready, after all. This day was going to go forward whether he was there or not, even though she wanted him there so badly.