Chapter 20: Page Six

Kelsey came to the farmhouse at ten on Friday night, nine hours before her brother's wedding.

I had called her the night Whitney texted.

She had said only: "Not on the phone. Friday."

Now she stood on my porch in a black coat, holding a flat white envelope against her chest.

Bruce stayed inside with Biscuit.

I had asked him to.

"The rehearsal dinner's still going," Kelsey said. "I told them I had a migraine."

"Do you?"

"I have a headache that looks like one." She almost smiled. "Can I sit?"

We sat on the porch swing, with a blanket over our knees.

She opened the envelope and handed me a program on cream paper, with gold edges.

I turned to page six.

It said: A Moment of Grace.

Under it: The congregation will bow their heads while Ms. Leah Goodall, a guest of the family, offers the couple her blessing.

I read it three times.

"She wants me to bless them," I said. "In front of two hundred people. In that church."

"If you do, it looks like you made peace," Kelsey said. Her voice shook.

"And if I won't?"

"Then Travis tells everyone how hard he tried to include you."

She pointed past the page.

"There's a screen behind the altar. Mom ordered it Tuesday. It plays a slideshow while the guests are seated."

"Who runs it?"

"I do. Travis put my name on the cue sheet. I press play."

I looked at the paper, then at her.

"Kelsey."

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