“My car better be in one piece. You must have broken several laws to get there and back in the time you have,” Sarah warned, her hands firmly on her hips as I walked back into her office without an invitation. The secretary gave me one look and rolled her eyes, letting me pass.

“She’s fine. Didn’t have time to gas her up though.” Before Sarah could scold me, I added, “I’ll do it later, I don’t have time now. Did you get what I needed?”

“Of course I did.” Sarah patted a small rectangular box that sat innocently on her desk. “But something tells me your little trip didn’t work out the way you hoped?”

“Gerard is going to kill me—if Rochelle doesn’t get her hands on me first.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

I shrugged off her implication, avoiding her gaze. Letting myself think or even talk about Anna right at that moment, would’ve been my undoing. I had to keep my promises; somehow this day had to go right for at least one couple. And right now, my priority was to my best friend and not myself. Later, once the wedding was over and I had time to slip away, only then would I examine all the pieces of my broken heart, and figure out a way—if there even was a way—in which to repair it. I claimed the shoebox and took a quick look at the contents. Satisfied, I turned to leave.

“Sebastian, wait.” Sarah placed a hand on my arm. “You really love her, don’t you?”

I trapped my tongue between my teeth, pinning it in place.

“What on earth happened?” she probed.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. But yes, to answer your question. I do.”

Her lips formed a thin line. “Then don’t give up, go to her. I can take the shoes to Rochelle.”

“I already tried that. She made up her mind. Anna wants nothing to do with me anymore.”

As I left Sarah’s office I called Trudy, Rochelle’s maid of honor, to let her know I had the shoes, and it was now her job to get the bride to the church and that I would meet them there. We were already a few minutes over the extended time I’d arranged with the pastor. There was no time to go back and forth now. My little trip to try and reclaim my bridesmaid had taken longer than I expected, a wasted journey because after all this I still hadn’t lived up to my promise to Gerard. I could only hope that neither the bride nor groom would notice, that they’d be so distracted by the process of getting married and with each other that a missing bridesmaid would slip through the cracks.

I got to the church a few minutes before Rochelle and her entourage pulled up and spent the time reassuring Gerard that everything was good to go. The relief on his face was thanks enough for all the running around I’d done in the last hour.

“She’s really coming?”

“Yes, you fool. Of course, she is. So you better put that back on and get out there.”

“Oh shit… I’m getting married.” Gerard’s face practically turned green. “It’s really happening.”

“Yes, you are buddy,” I said with a smile and lifted the white collar of his shirt, draping the gold cravat around his neck. “And I’ll be right by your side. But first I have a quick delivery to make.” I finished tying the cravat and rushed back out to the street just as the bridal carriage pulled to a stop.

“Are you ready to get married, future Mrs. Moran?” I asked once I pulled open the door.

“I will be if you kept up your end of the bargain.”

“Do you doubt this face?”

She rolled her eyes and I offered Rochelle the box that contained her wedding shoes, and lifted the lid with a flourish like a waiter at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

“Oh god. You did it. You actually did it. They’re perfect. Thank you,” Rochelle said with tears in her eyes. “Maybe you aren’t so bad after all, Baz.”

“Hey, no crying!” piped up Trudy.

“She’s right, cry afterward. Lord knows there’ll be plenty of tears once you realize you’ve married Gerard,” I said with a laugh. Trudy shot me a dirty look, but Rochelle nodded and laughed. “Too soon?”

Trudy assisted Rochelle with the shoes and with an extended prince-like hand, I helped both ladies out of the carriage, the maid of honor then the bride herself.

“Is everyone here?” Rochelle asked as she glanced around.

“Yup,” I blurted before she could complete her headcount and motioned the seven ladies toward the church.

Trudy fluffed the train of Rochelle’s designer dress as we approached the church and once in the anteroom, the other groomsmen joined the party, tentatively pairing up with their partners. Now was the time I needed to slip away before anyone figured out I didn’t have my partner to walk down the aisle with. I had it all planned. There was a door that led around the side of the inner church, I would have to sprint, but there would be enough time to make it and stand by my best friend as he watched the procession and his bride-to-be walk down the aisle.

But a hand on my shoulder stopped me. For a second, hope flickered and I turned fully expecting to see Anna’s face.

“Looks like we’re walking down together,” Trudy said. She leaned into me, close to my ear and whispered, “I noticed we’re one short.”

My eyes flicked to the bride, standing next to a man I presumed to be her father.

“Don’t worry, Rochelle hasn’t noticed, too busy dealing with her nerves. Ivy thinks she’s won the lottery, though. She’s being escorted by two of the groomsmen.”

“But…” I started but there was no fighting it unless I caused a scene. And there was no point doing that, it would only make Rochelle take notice and there was every chance if she found out that her superstitions would kick in again. I couldn’t risk her balking from walking down the aisle not when we were so close to the finish line.

Trudy got us into position. We would be the last pair to make our entrance before the bride herself. Beyond the doors, music started to play and I trained my head forward, not wanting to glance at Trudy, even though she was lovely. She was not my Anna.

“Excuse me, excuse me! Sorry coming through.”

Something in my chest squeezed, hope blossoming as I heard her voice echoing around the small and very crowded antechamber. It couldn’t be, I thought. I didn’t want to turn my head in case I would be disappointed again, and yet that had to be her. Who else could it be? Her accent was different to what I was used to, but it was her. Tentatively I turned to see the bride scowl at the intruder.

“Who are you?” Rochelle queried as Anna brushed past the golden hues of her dress.

Anna blushed and stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m your bridesmaid, Anna, nice to meet you,” she beamed. “Sorry I’m late, traffic was a nightmare. By the way, the bridesmaid’s dress is perfect. Thank you so much. And so is yours!”

“Anna? What are you doing here?” I stuttered, mesmerized by her sudden appearance. In response Anna halted, eyes narrowing. Shit, wrong thing to say. “I thought…” I tried again but my mouth was dry. She was here. Actually here, before me, standing like a princess, albeit one who looked slightly pissed off at my new companion.

Anna glanced at the woman next to me, her hand linked through my arm. “I believe you’re in my spot. Hands off my fiancé,” she said with a smile and a glimmer in her eyes.

Trudy was a good sport, though a little put out. But she had no time to discuss the matter. Up ahead pairs from the wedding party were already halfway down the aisle.

“He’s all yours,” Trudy said and quickly found the spare groomsman and took up her position.

With a frog still in my throat, I offered my arm to Anna, who took it willingly and with a smile on her face.

“Don’t think that I have forgiven you… yet,” she said.

“Get in line, honey. He’s got a lot of explaining to do,” Rochelle added from behind.

I turned over my shoulder. “Hey, just remember who saved the day,” I said and glanced down at her feet, which were completely covered with layers of tulle. You couldn’t even see the damn shoes that had caused all the delays. But I had to admit the previous faulty pair, had been a blessing in disguise.

“How’s your gran?”

“Stubborn but fine.”

“So…” I whispered as we began moving toward the front, getting ready for our turn. “Fiancé, huh?”

“I’ve still got my ring on,” she whispered back, extending her arm, wiggling her ring finger.

“I see that, does that mean you’re willing to give me another chance?”

“That depends.”

“On what?” I muttered back, barely moving my lips as we started to stroll down the aisle as if we promenading in days gone by.

“If you give me another chance, too?”

“As if you even have to ask.”

We were halfway down the aisle when Anna let out a giggle, surprising even herself, I thought, as she covered her mouth so quickly, her face turning a lovely shade of pink.

“What’s so funny?”

“All this. I still can’t believe I thought today I was going to marry you. I mean if you really think about, how would you have gotten a wedding license without me?”

“Huh, never thought about that. Well, maybe we should get one, just in case I have the urge to sweep you off your feet. Do you have any plans next weekend?”

She nudged me in the ribs and I was in danger of bellowing out a laugh too, when I caught Gerard’s eye. He stood tall, rigid as a statue, with his hands behind his back. But the expression on his face betrayed his posture. He may have been nervous and only barely holding it together, but there was a man that couldn’t wait to start a new chapter with the love of his life by his side. I gave him an encouraging wink, knowing exactly how he was feeling.

We made it to the end and just when Anna was about to slip away and join the other bridesmaids on the left, I caught her hand and kept her close. Not wanting to steal the show—though it was hard not to pull her into an embrace and kiss her—I lifted her hand to my lips instead, placing a kiss upon her fingers, then dipped down into a shallow bow.

“Won’t be long before you’re back in my arms,” I said and let her go, taking my place beside the groom.

---

The wedding ceremony was a roaring success. Rochelle made it down the aisle in her bridal shoes without any mishaps. Beautiful vows were exchanged—a few lines nervously muttered on both sides—and the tired, patient guests stood and applauded when Gerard finally got to kiss his bride. Some guests also preemptively showered the newlyweds with confetti, much to the displeasure of the pastor. But nothing could’ve distracted Rochelle and Gerard from each other, their eyes permanently locked, as if they couldn’t believe what they’d just done.

Finally, I was beside Anna again. Even those few moments apart had felt intolerable. All that time during the ceremony, staring across at her, meeting her eyes as the vows were read, I couldn’t wait for her to be back in my arms again. Couldn’t wait for the day that we’d be doing something similar.

This time I didn’t care if we stole the show, I would kiss her until we were both breathless and weak at the knees. As soon as our fingertips found each other, I moved to frame her face and leaned down, kissing her. Between the aisles, we blocked any chance of the people behind us from getting past. But everyone was in good humor. Though there were a few shouts of “Get a room you two” and “Pastor, looks like you’re needed for another ceremony, if this goes on any longer.”

With smiles on our faces, we parted, breathless. I pulled Anna away from the crowd, into a small alcove. In reverse order the rest of the bridal party and the remaining guests followed the happy couple out of the church to the steps outside, leaving us alone for the first time.

“I meant every word, you know? I love you, Anna. It doesn’t matter what your name is, what crazy thing you’ve done,” I said and tapped my chest, “I know what’s in my heart and nothing you can say will ever change that.”

Anna’s lips tugged into a half-smile. “What if I told you I was a Russian spy?”

“I wouldn’t care. I would run away with you.”

“What if—”

I placed two fingers on her lips. “I love you. All of you.”

Anna wrapped her hands around my neck and pulled me down for another long kiss.

“I love you too… and I know what you did.”

“What did I do?” I replied innocently, my nose brushing against the tip of hers.

“You saved my gran from eviction, even though I told you to leave. How can I ever repay you?”

“Shh, there’s nothing to repay. I did it because I love you, wanted you never to have to worry about where you were going to find the money to keep your gran safe and well. They should be installing a new TV in her room too.”

“But—”

“Well, there is one thing you can do. And now you know exactly how I feel…” I said and moved to kneel. “Anastasia Nicola Pavlov, will you marry me?”