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CHAPTER 1
Camille
Six months wasn’t long enough to prepare me to come face to face with six long years of grief and devastation. The moment my brother, Cooper, and his fiancée, Ivy, set their wedding date, I knew the clock had officially started ticking. Now, sitting at my library desk, the beautiful scripted ivory cardstock invitation burns a hole straight through my hand. The edges are already starting to fray from the countless times I've picked it up to read since it arrived in my mailbox six months ago.
You are Invited To Celebrate
The Marriage of
Cooper Benson & Ivy Lane
August 22, 2026
I let out a shaky breath, placing the invitation down on the wooden surface in front of me. My gaze drifts to the magazine rack that stands only feet away from my desk. Right there in front of me, where it always lies, is a travel magazine. It’s not the beautiful landscapes or landmarks that rattle me, but the name plastered on the front. A haunting reminder of what was lost between us, staring back at me every day as I try to work.
Drew Carson.
The boy next door, my brother's best friend. The name that hasn't fallen from my lips in six agonizing years. I always try to push that name deep down in the archives of my heart. Heat burns through me as the memories hit me like a truck. The boy who made me feel seen when no one else did, the name I'd doodle in my notebooks when I was fifteen. It seems like just yesterday, we spent our Friday nights under the big lights of the football field. Those are some of my favorite and most painful memories to recall. But I'd do anything to go back for just one night, to smell the freshly cut grass and the hot popcorn, to hear the sharp whistles of the referee. I can still hear the cheering fans on the bleachers, their faces painted with #44 and #26 in black and blue ink. Cooper and Drew, the power duo on the field.
“Miss Benson?” A sweet voice calls out in front of me, dragging me from the past and back into the present. A young girl with blonde pigtails and big, bright blue eyes stares back at me.
“Hi sweetheart, how can I help you?” I smile.
“Is it too late to turn in my summer reading challenge?” She asks, nervously placing her paper on my desk. The library closes in five minutes, and she missed the end-of-summer bash.
“Of course not. Let me get you your dinner and ice cream vouchers,” I say, reaching into my desk, hoping we still have some leftover from earlier. I hand them over to her, and she beams with excitement, skipping away toward her mom at the front entrance. Her mom gives me a relieved wave as they head out the front door.
C’mon, Aghhh. I groan, sitting on my suitcase, putting all my weight on it to get the zippers to close. I had to pack a full week's worth of my life into a single suitcase and a carry-on. Zipppp. Yessss! I cheer, wiping the sweat off my brow. I’ll have to figure out how I'm going to reorganize it all for the flight back home, but that's a problem for future Camille. Why is it so hot in here? I need to open a window. The overwhelming sensation of the week ahead is hitting me all at once.
I’m pulling the window latch open when my phone starts ringing in my back pocket. My mom's face lights up the screen.
“Hey mom!”
“Hey, Cam! I just wanted to let you know, your father and I made it to the Lakeshore Estates. It is stunning here, you're going to love it,” She adds. “Are you all packed for your flight tomorrow?”
The wedding week is taking place in Northern Lake Michigan, where Ivy's family is from.
“Glad you guys made it okay, I just finished packing,” I say, wedging the phone between my ear and shoulder so I can start loading chargers into my carry-on bag.
“I wish you would have just flown in today with your father and me," she sighs heavily. “I hate that you're flying alone.”
“I know, Mom, but you know how important work was for me this weekend. The kids needed me.”
Having to leave a day after my parents was the price I paid for the end-of-summer bash. As the city's librarian, I consider it the most important day of my summer. The children are rewarded for meeting their reading goals by receiving dinner gift cards and vouchers for local ice cream shops. Totally worth it.
“I know, sweetheart, those kids are lucky to have you.” I can hear the warmth in her smile on the other end of the line.
“Hey, you made sure I have a reservation for a rental car, right, Mom?” I ask firmly.
“Yeah, honey, you should be good to go!” Her voice sounds distant and distracted. “Well, we just met up with Cooper and Ivy, so I'll let you go. Keep me posted on your flight in the morning.”
“Alright, Mom, I love you. Send my love to Coop and Ivy, please.” Ending the call, I stare at my dark screen. The realization settles in my chest. The wedding is finally here.
I woke up early this morning, making sure my hair was washed and styled into soft low-maintenance curls. I put on my grey high-waisted comfy shorts, a cropped white baby tee, and laced up my black high-top Converse. My phone chimes with a notification, my Uber has arrived. I grab my luggage and lock up my apartment door behind me.
Once on the plane, I settle into my window seat and pull on my oversized white headphones. I glance out the window. The sun is rising red and pink over LAX. See you later, sunny California. I close the window panel and shut my eyes, practicing my deep breathing as the engine roars to life. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth; repeat.
The captain’s muffled voice coming out of the high-pitched loudspeaker jolts me awake. “This is your captain speaking, please take your seats and prepare for landing in thirty minutes. Thank you for choosing United Airlines, and have safe travels.”
