omorrow, I, Ethan Reed, would marry Isabelle Davenport. I watched her across the room, a vision in her white silk dress, laughing with

marrying into old prestige. Isabelle's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Davenport, maintained

ered, her hand flying to her

s at her side in an instan

murmured, his concern

a greenish tint no

k," she whispered, loud enou

"I'll take you to a do

before I could even stand up, lea

, dear, I'm sure it's just nerves. Don't you

d myself, but a knot of une

, my phone bu

ak, but there was an edge

the doctor say?

egnant,

hadn't been careless. A wave o

ing, Izzy! A bit of a

hattered the joy

the glittering lights blurr

word was a c

e have to postpone the wedd

trength, a demandi

work stress. And you'll need to quit your job, that demanding fin

ess the barrage. Quit my job?

"he'll need to live with us, of course. He's the father, h

The man who had j

form a coherent thought.

n. For the baby. For app

erstand anything except the

say, the word numb, dis

knew you'd see reason. I'll call you lat

hung

ing. Devastated wasn't a strong enough word. My future, th

sharp and clear, a lifeli

under a starry sky, wi

rried by my 30

my watch. It

birthday

If you hit the big three-oh still single, Ethan

r self had said,

t a joke