The following evening was my bachelorette party. Balloons. Sparkling cocktails. Way too much pink. I was trying to savor my happiness when Claire arrived late, her hair still wet from the rain, dressed in her work clothes.
She found me near the bar. “Alice,” she said, sounding rushed, “cancel the wedding.”
I stared at her. “What did you just say?”
“Please. Cancel it.”
“For what?”
“I can’t explain it right now.”
I could feel all eyes turning towards us. “So you came here to ruin my evening, just for the fun of it?”
Claire grabbed my wrist. “Please, listen to me…”
I jerked my arm away. “You’re jealous. You can’t stand that I finally have something good.”
I saw the words hit her.
Claire’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m trying to stop you from making a mistake, Ally.”
“So say what you think.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. Not yet.”
I pointed at the door. “Then leave.”
She did it.
And those were the last words I spoke to my sister while she was still alive to answer me.
My wedding day began under a radiant sun.
The church was fragrant with lilies and candle wax. Ryan waited at the altar, calm and serene. Afterwards, everyone drove to the restaurant downtown for the reception.
I glanced towards the entrance, but Claire never came. I tried calling her several times, but I went straight to her voicemail.
My father insisted that she was upset and that she would eventually calm down. My mother told me not to let her ruin my day. So I smiled at my cousins, thanked people for the gifts, and pretended my stomach wasn’t growing.
An hour passed. Then my mother’s phone rang.
