Page 5 of One Week Hating You
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WHEN SHE TURNS TO ME, I know. I know something terrible has happened. At first, I go to the only feasible conclusion – Peter is hurt. “What happened?” I ask, imagining the worst.
She sits next to me and takes my hands in hers. “I… I’ve spoken to Peter’s parents, and... Sweetheart, there’s been a change of plans.” She doesn’t sound like herself and she takes a long breath before going on. “They… they say that Peter had a change of heart, and he’s not coming. They’re very, very sorry.”
My world falls apart in the next few seconds as I work out the reality of my situation. My whole life as I knew it has crumbled. My fiancé, the love of my life, has left me at the altar. He’s humiliated me. He’s wrecked me. My family and my friends are all here, waiting for that perfect moment that will never come. How will I ever be able to face them?
“He’s not coming?” I ask, not wanting to believe it.
Momma doesn’t say a word. There’s nothing else to say. I slowly venture a look up at the room. Everyone is shell-shocked; mouths are hanging on the floor, eyes are full of pity, arched brows and confused expressions. Sabrina asks her mom what is going on. Almost everyone here knows Peter, and they, like me, have a hard time believing he did this.
Corrie is the first by my side. She wraps her tiny arms around me. “I’m so sorry, Maeve.” She pulls away quickly. Her eyes are brimming with tears. “What the fuck is wrong with him?”
I shake my head.
Gabbie and Kayla both kneel at my feet. “You’ll be fine,” Gabbie says. “We’ll go out there and tell everyone that the wedding’s been put off. You don’t need to go out there.”
I breathe in a sigh of relief.
Kayla rests a hand on my knee. “You’ll be fine, girl,” she says. “You’re one of the strongest, happiest girls I know. And you’re amazing. He doesn’t deserve you.” She’s crying too.
I sob harder. I let it all out. Why the hell not… my mascara is already ruined.
The poor kids look so confused. They’re all so small and precious in their pretty dresses and little tuxes. They were all told that they’d be part of a very special day. And now, they’re staring at a blubbering mess, wondering what the hell has just happened.
Well, I’ll tell you what happened, kiddoes. uncle Peter is a fucking prick, and he stood up auntie Maeve on the most important day of her life. He stole her heart, took her virginity, made a million promises, wrenched her heart right out of her ribcage, trampled it with his fancy shoes, and ran it through the paper shredder on his desk. He pretty much ruined her life.
Maddie trudges slowly up to me. “What’s wrong, auntie Maeve?” Her sweet face breaks my heart.
“The wedding’s not happening right now,” I tell her. “Uncle Peter changed his mind. He doesn’t want to marry me… maybe I’m not good enough—”
Momma pats me on the shoulder. “Enough of that,” she says, cutting me off before I traumatize Maddie further. I’m glad she stopped me – what kind of example am I setting? I’ve always thought of myself as a strong woman. Why am I letting a man dictate how I feel, how my life will go?
But I can’t help wondering… was I ever good enough for him? Why did it take him so long to ask me to marry him? And when he did, why did it not quite feel right? There was a little something nagging at me, a little something in his expression, in his stance. He wasn’t one-hundred percent into it, and I knew it.
I just chose to ignore it.
Obviously, he just wasn’t ready.
Sylvia officially takes over, reprising her wedding planner role. This is probably the worst case scenario for her. I wonder how many runaway groom scenarios she’s seen, if she’s ever seen one.
“Okay, everyone,” she announces. “The wedding will not take place today.”
“No kidding, Sherlock,” Corrie quips. “What do we do now?”
“Well, I’ll go and tell everyone that the groom has been indisposed, and that there won’t be a ceremony today.”
Corrie stands up. “Indisposed?” she snaps. “Is that another word for cowardly avoiding one’s responsibilities?”
Sylvia clears her throat, clearly uncomfortable.
“Let me go up there,” Corrie says. “I have my little speech all ready.”
Sylvia shakes her head. “I don’t think—”
“It goes something like this…” Corrie goes on. “Hey, how’s everyone doing today? Well, turns out that Peter Walker is a coward. He decided not to show up to his own wedding. He doesn’t deserve Maeve. Seriously, she’swaytoo good for him. And we should all gather together and go throw eggs at his house.”
I laugh. It feels strange to cry and laugh at the same time, but that’s Corrie for you. “Well, we live in a condo,” I point out, “but I like where you were going with that.”
