glasses stop

lass. His smile, which had been for

their phones. A notifi

hloe. A picture of her on a pla

lier flight! See you

oked up from his pho

y," he said, not to me,

flying to her chest. "Oh, m

his feet. "We have to go get he

ng his coat. "Of course.

idn

oom was full of our friends, our colleagues, the peop

iancé included, was walkin

aid. My voi

his face. "What is it, Ellie? It's Chloe. We

aid, my hands starting to tre

ra. We're not letting your sister take a tax

lf

the air of the

rtably in their seats. I could feel

be reassuring. "We'll be back in a couple

llowed my parents and brother out t

aten plates and wilting flowers a monument to my humiliation. T

nce? The

out my own credit card and paid fo

home in

ss jar on my desk was wai

r from the notepad next to

hearsal dinner to pick C

pain. I dropped it into the jar. It settled amo

e ninety-

ore t