Page 105 of Violet

The limo pulls up and my other sisters are there waiting, Rue with my bouquet of wildflowers. Momwanted roses, but the wildflowers were something I stood firm on.

Hothouse roses, fresh roses clipped from a gorgeous rose garden, it doesn’t matter where—not for me. I wanted something softer, less lofty. So Iris, Penrith, Mom, and I ended up with flowers that included the namesakes of my sisters and Mom.

Heath gets out of the car first, and then Iris, and finally me. The sun’s too warm as it hits me, and my toes are like ice in my shoes. But Iris smiles, adjusts the beyond-pretty veil she made for me, and then Rue runs up with my flowers.

The music starts, and the girls go in, my beautiful sisters.

How perfect this day would be if Stephan loved me, was falling for me the way I’m falling for him.

“Vi…”

I turn and look at my brother, who’s frowning thoughtfully.

“I know Dad should be the one walking you down the aisle, and really, you shouldn’t be in this position?—”

“No—”

“Hush, Vi, my turn. You always want to put others first and do the right thing for us. But for what it’s worth, for my…skepticism on this union, Ashford cares. He’ll look after you.”

“And the family.”

Heath glances away. “Not what I meant.”

“I know he’s good,” I say. “But?—”

“I love you, Vi. You deserve happiness. I hope…I hope you both find it.”

“I love you, too. And…” I suck in a breath. I want to sayI love Stephan,but I can’t. “It’s going to be a good match.”

A good match.

He doesn’t sayStephan told me he’s madly in love with you. He doesn’t sayVi, Stephan’s falling for you.He just looks at me in that Heath way, like he’s reorganizing a list, like he’s trying to make room for me if I stumble and break my own heart.

But I won’t.

I need to put him at ease.

“I’m going into this with open eyes.”

I expect him to breathe out in relief, to offer me platitudes or even warnings.

He doesn’t.

All Heath does is smile and hold out his arm.

One foot in front of the other. I grip my brother’s arm so tight, and I almost crush the wrapped stems in the bouquet.

The cathedral is huge. I feel swallowed by it, and yet in a way it also feels so small that I can’t escape.

I don’t look up until Heath transfers me to Stephan to take his place at his side.

The sight of Stephan lifts me high in the sky and then slams me back to earth. My stomach flips, and my vision hazes over. I’m overcome by something so enormous that I step back.

I’m going to run.

CHAPTER

THIRTY

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