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looked at my mother and shrugged before following in after my gran. When I got there, I found her gripping Adam’s cheeks like they were hard candy. “Oh, Charlene, why couldn’t you have married this one? He’s so cute, and he’s a doctor.”
    I rolled my eyes. “You know why gran.”
    “Ah, yes, the member of our family that’s not a member of our family. Maybe that’s why you’re the only one I can stomach.”
    Adam smiled at her before assisting her to her favourite armchair. My heart always skipped a beat whenever anyone sat there. It was Dad’s chair. Coming up behind me, Gareth rested his chin on my shoulder.
    “The old witch was a fucking nightmare. I had to pull over three times just so she could stretch her legs. This dinner is going to be a disaster.” I giggled and glanced back at him. “I bet it won’t be boring though.”
    He had no idea just how much of a disaster it would be. I was going to tell everyone the truth all together, at the same time. That way, I could get all the tears, tantrums, and comments dealt with in one swoop. And that was just my mother. God knows what the others would say. But I had a feeling one person would be thrilled at the news. Nadine. She had made no secret of the fact her wedding was the wedding to end all weddings. I was pretty sure that was her motive for taking such an active role in planning mine. The little tart just wanted to make sure I didn’t out-do her. Well, I certainly wouldn’t be now.
    Fisting her hands on her hips, my mother sighed loudly. “Right, shall we make our way to the table for dinner and then after, we can do gifts.”
    We all nodded in agreement except Gran, who mumbled something under her breath as she rose from her squat on my dad’s chair.
    I walked toward the dining room, but Adam caught my elbow, halting me as everyone else left the room. “I told you to do it earlier. You realise this is going to be hell, right?”
    I nodded. “Yes. But at least this way I only have to shove that dislocated limb back in once. Rather than doing it over and over again with each of them.”
    Giving me a half smile, he wrapped his arms around me tightly. “How are you feeling, by the way?”
    I shrugged as I nuzzled my face in his broad chest. “Numb. It doesn’t feel real. We’ve been apart so much recently that it just feels like another business trip or family thing taking him away from me. I’m angry at him, at her, but mostly at myself for not being smart enough to realise he was screwing someone else.”
    Gripping my arms, he gently pushed me away from him and stared at me. “This was not your fault, Charlie. That guy is a dick, and he doesn’t deserve you. Look, sometimes we have to go through painful endings just so we can start a new beginning. You will get your happily ever after. Just not with him.”
    Shaking my head, I pulled myself from his grasp. “No, I won’t. Because they don’t exist. Come on, better get this over with.”
    Taking my hand, he laced our fingers together, and we took our seats at the table. I gave him a quick squeeze before settling down for what was going to be the most traumatic meal of my life.
     
    * * * *
     
    Dinner was uneventful. Nadine spent the whole meal bragging about her gifts from Gareth while he nodded and smiled where appropriate. My mother grinned at her while my gran rolled her eyes and tutted at them both. Adam and I had kept a dignified silence. That was until Nadine cornered me.
    “Charlene, I’ve been meaning to ask you—your bridesmaids, will they be wearing the same sickly shade of pink you chose for the flowers? I’d hate to wear pink and look like I was part of the wedding party.”
    Bitch .
    I shook my head. “No, they won’t be wearing pink. In fact, they won’t be wearing anything.”
    My mother gasped. “Charlene! I will not have my daughter being one of those new radical brides who make a mockery of marriage by throwing one of those awful themed weddings. And nudity is