Replacing Four Grooms in One Day novel · Chapter 1 of 24
Chapter 1: Groom Number One
Preston lets go of her hand when his first love walks into the aisle, so Vin hands over the bouquet and the florist's invoice, keeps the dress, and at 10:41 Number Two cancels by text.
At 10:07 on my wedding morning, Preston Ames let go of my hand in front of two hundred guests.
A woman in a camel travel coat had stopped halfway up the aisle, still holding her suitcase by the handle.
"Preston," she said. "I got off the plane from Lisbon an hour ago. I couldn't stay away."
Preston looked at her, then at the floor, then at her again.
The officiant waited with his book open.
Two hundred guests held up their phones.
"Vin," Preston said, to the aisle and not to me. "Give me a minute."
He took one step toward the woman in the coat and did not take it back.
I did not scream. I have never seen what it buys.
I had booked four weddings for this one Saturday, and this was the first of them going wrong exactly as budgeted.
So I stepped out.
I walked down the two altar steps, took the woman's hand, and put my bouquet in it.
"You've come a long way," I said. "You should have something to hold."
She burst into tears, which gave her something to do with the other hand.
I went back to Preston, opened my clutch, and took out the florist's invoice.
"Twenty-three hundred and forty dollars," I said. "You signed for it. It's due Friday."
Preston took the paper in both hands.
Somebody in the third row gasped, and somebody else said, "Oh, she's good."
I turned to the church.
"Lunch is still at noon in the reception hall on Meeting Street," I said. "The crab is paid for and cannot be refunded. The bar is open. Please eat."
Someone in the back started to clap.
"Please don't clap," I said. "I'm wearing this dress until six."
I gathered my train over one arm and walked down the aisle.
Gran was in the front pew with her pen uncapped.
She was eighty-six, and she had come to watch me get married.
My grandfather's trust gave me the house on Tradd Street only if I married before my thirtieth birthday.
Gran was the trustee, and she had to see the vows and sign.
My birthday began at midnight, and her pen had nothing to sign yet.
"I can't find my glasses," she said. "I sat on them."
I took the spare pair out of my bag. The case said V.H. SPARE in black marker.
"Where's Number Two?" Gran said, putting them on.
"Courtyard on Atlantic Street, eleven o'clock," I said. "We have time to get you coffee."
"You've got a spare of everything, Vinnie."
"One of anything is a point of failure," I said.
My mother learned that at her own wedding, the morning her only caterer disappeared with the deposit.
I learned it from her, and I have not owned a single thing without a backup since.
In the car, I laid my train across the back seat on top of my life vest.
It was still in its plastic bag with the store tag on.
I have never worn it, because I don't go near deep water.
Gran looked at it in the mirror.
"You never did like deep water," she said. "Not since that camp summer."
"Venue Four is a boat tied to a dock," I said. "Docks don't count."
At 10:35 my phone rang with a number I didn't know.
"Hi, honey, it's Alana, from Lacroix Harbor Ferry," a bright voice said. "I just wanted to confirm Venue Four. Ceremony at two."
"I'll be there," I said. "At the dock. Tied up."
"Where else would we be, honey?" Alana said. "Park in the blue lot, the gravel one eats heels. Knox's been at the pier since seven."
"Seven?"
"He's always early. I feel like I know you already, you know. I handle the inbox, so I've read everything you've ever sent him."
"That's very kind," I said, and I meant it.
"Good luck with the others, honey," Alana said, and hung up.
I held the phone for a moment, and then it buzzed again.
It was 10:41 and the text was from Austin Merrill, Groom Number Two.
I read it at a red light on Calhoun Street.
Vin, I am so sorry. My mother found the girl who pulled me out of a pond when I was eight. I owe her my life. I can't marry anyone else.
I read it twice.
Austin had signed my one-page Standby Groom Agreement three weeks ago, in a sandwich shop, and taken my thousand dollars.
Page one said that a groom who cancels owes me two thousand.
"What does it say?" Gran said.
The light turned green.
"Number Two has cancelled," I said.
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend