Chapter 18: Where It Started

Weston had wanted to come, and she had told him no.

"This one is mine," Claire said at the door of the penthouse, and he had nodded and kissed her forehead and let her go.

The Marriage Bureau smelled of floor cleaner and radiator dust, the same as always.

At twenty to five there were three couples in the plastic chairs, waiting for the last slots of the day.

One of the girls was in a white sundress with a coat over it, and she was gripping her boyfriend's sleeve.

In the corner chair by the water cooler sat Preston.

He stood up when Claire came through the door.

He was holding a bunch of white roses, and his suit was the navy one from the day she had left.

"I'm early," he said. "I've been here since three."

"I can see that."

"I wanted to be first. For once."

She took the chair on the far side of the room, and he sat down again, facing her, with the roses across his knees.

"I got the license," Preston said. "It's in my pocket. It's the fourth one. It's today, at 4:45, and I'm here, Claire, I'm actually here."

"You are."

"Marry me. Right now, in this room. I'll never..."

"Preston."

"I'll never go to her again. She's finished. I know what she is, I know what I did, and I'll spend the rest of my life..."

"Preston."

He stopped.

Claire opened her bag and took out the check.

It was creased from a night on the kitchen table, and she smoothed it flat on her knee.

Keep reading free with an account. Start Nine Rejected Marriages, I Wed My Ex's Rival from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.