Page 98 of How to Ruin Your Ex's Wedding
“Okay,” I say, drawing the word out.
She clears her throat. “Hunter has a note he’d like you to read before the ceremony.”
“Oh, that’s sweet,” I say.
“One of my assistants has it and is bringing it to us now.”
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll just stay standing.”
Liza nods in response, still not meeting my gaze.
Something’s wrong.
I can hear someone coming up the marble stairs at a rapid pace, even from here at the other end of the hall, the footsteps are echoing off the stone. I turn and see a young girl racing toward us. She has a cream-colored envelope in her hand, which she passes to Liza once she reaches us.
Liza turns and hands it to me.
My name is scrolled across the front in Hunter’s very tiny, very precise, handwriting.
I nudge the flap open with my index finger and pull the note out.
Liza turns away, giving me privacy.
Crystal crowds in to read over my shoulder.
Tabatha,
On what should have been our wedding day, I regret to inform you that I will not be in attendance. The changes to your persona are too numerous and too extreme for me to overlook. I will not spend my life second-guessing which version of you will greet me on a daily basis. Rest assured, I will absorb the expense of the day as originally planned. Since I executed the preparations on my own anyway, that shouldn’t be a problem for you. As an aside, the roses from last night were organized prior to the rehearsal dinner. I failed to cancel them in time. They were not an apology, as you falsely assumed. Tell the guests whatever you would like. I will reach out personally to anyone whose impression of the events I see fit to correct.
Best,
Hunter
He will not be in attendance. To our wedding. Not in attendance. How can that be?
What am I feeling?
“Whoa,” Crystal whispers.
“What does it say?” Angela asks.
My arm falls to my side, the note floating from my grip to the floor. Angela picks it up to read it herself.
“I’m so sorry, Tabatha,” Liza says.
“You knew?” I ask her.
“I knew he was gone. I didn’t know about the note until just now.”
I’m in shock.
“You fixed my dress knowing he was gone?”
She nods, looking ashamed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do. I’ve never had this happen before.”
“Neither have I!” I cry.
Angela pulls me into her arms and hugs me. “I’m so sorry, Tabby.”
