Page 59 of Keeping Happily Ever After

“What is it?”

“You really haven’t heard from anyone?”

She shook her head. “My phone is back in my room. I left it there this morning. You said no distractions.”

“Right.” Steph nodded. “And that’s probably a—”

“Tell me. Now.”

“We have to go on in a few minutes.”

“I will.”

“I’m so sorry to tell you this, Bella. But it’s Jeremy. There’s been a fire.”

Everything stopped. Time froze.

Jeremy.

Fire.

All she could see was his face. Larger than life. He was there in front of her. And then, just as if someone pushed the button to start the video again, everything came to life in vivid color. The floor tilted beneath her, and Steph had to reach out to support her.

“Are you—”

“Jeremy.” She brushed off whatever Steph had been about to ask. Nothing else mattered. “Is he…is he okay?”

“I’ve sent a—”

“Ladies! You need to get on stage.”

“What?” Bella ignored Bryan and turned to Steph. “What did you—”

“Two minutes!” Bryan bellowed from the hallway. “Ladies. I need you out herenow.”

Bella looked at Steph in panic. “I can’t. I…”

“You can and you will. Jeremy is…he’s fine. He’s going to be okay. He’s in the hospital now and... He wouldn’t want you to not do this, Bella. Not because of him.”

Her head spun.

Jeremy. Fire. Showcase. Hospital.

He’d asked her not to. He’d asked her to choose. And she’d chosen this. And now… But that was before…that was before the fire.What if he wasn’t okay? What if she lost him? If he asked her again…

Bella shook her head. “No.”

Steph moved so she stood directly in front of her. She was petite, but she made up for it in presence. She grasped Bella by the shoulders and stared her in the eyes. “You know in your heart that no matter what he said when he was hurting, he wants this for you. More than anything, he does. Because he loves you. Do this for him, Bella.”

How could she be expected to go on? She couldn’t. She needed to…

“It’s go time, Bella.” Bryan’s hand was on her back, urging her forward. “You’ve got this. You’re going to be great.”

“Do it for Jeremy, Bella.”

Jeremy.

She’d do anything for him.

---