Chapter 5
As expected. Caspian didn’t come home for two days.]
He was at the beach with Ruelle, taking wedding photos.]
And he actually had someone photoshop our headshots into wedding portraits.]
Since I’d decided to bail on the wedding, I’d probably only come back for my parents‘ death anniversaries.]
I brought two bouquets to the cemetery to visit them.]
I added the groundskeeper’s contact info so he could maintain their graves going forward.
“I’ll be paying for my parents‘ upkeep from now on. You can refuse any payments from Mr. Ashford.”
The groundskeeper checked his system and looked confused:
“Miss, your parents‘ maintenance fees are six months overdue. We tried calling the family contact, but the number’s disconnected.”
I realized I’d changed my number after moving abroad and felt terrible about the oversight.
If Caspian didn’t love me anymore, why would he remember my dead parents?]
After catching up on payments and prepaying for ten years, I left feeling hollow.
But just outside the cemetery gates, I heard a voice I’d never forget:[]
“Cas, you’re so sweet to remember it’s Ruelle’s father’s death anniversary! The old man would be floating on cloud nine!”
I stiffly turned around to see Caspian walking arm–in–arm with Ruelle and her mother up the steps.
“It’s the least I can do. Mrs. Carter.”
“Silly boy, don’t call me Diat–in a few days you’ll be calling me Mom!”]
Caspian laughed warmly and obligingly called her “Mom.“]
Lyes burning. I silently headed to meet my friends.
I got straight to the point and told them the wedding was off.
They exchanged glances before asking tentatively:]
“Posey, so you know?”
I was confused about what they knew.
They pulled out photos of Caspian and Ruelle getting their pre–marriage medical examination together, looking outraged.[]
“Posey, we support you bailing on this wedding. I’d love to see what a joke it’ll be when Ruelle tries to object with no bride
there!”
Their words actually made me curious about what would happen.[]
The night before the wedding, Caspian brought home a brand–new pair of running shoes.
I asked casually:]
“Don’t you hate sneakers?”
He paused, then patted my head:
“Tomorrow I’ll need to run fast with the bride!”
The bride he meant wasn’t me.
The smile spreading across his face wasn’t for me either.
Apparently, having me publicly humiliated to prove his love for Ruelle made him genuinely happy.
The next day, I stopped by the wedding venue.[]
The massive banners made the photoshopped wedding portraits look even more obvious.
I took out scissors, cut out my young, bright face from the display, and headed to the airport.
When the flight attendant reminded passengers to turn off their phones, Caspian’s calls started flooding in.]
