Chapter 24: The Aisle

The snow went off the mountain in April.

The first thing I did when the road dried was drive up to the chapel alone.

The silver dish was still on the candle table.

I picked up the emerald and put it on my finger. It fit the way it had before.

Nobody saw me do it, and I never told anyone.

On the day of the wedding the sun came through the high windows in long gold bars.

I stood at the back of the chapel in a plain ivory dress with long sleeves.

My bouquet was white roses, with nothing taped under the ribbon.

Marcy stood beside me in a green velvet dress, with her short curls pinned back.

She had her hand through my arm.

"You're shaking," she said.

"You are."

"That's because I'm holding you up."

Marcello's mother came down the aisle from the front pew, in black silk and a pearl brooch.

She stopped in front of me.

I took the thin gold ring from my pocket and held it out.

"A loan," I said. "I'm returning it."

She looked at it, and then at the emerald on my hand.

"Keep it for the baby," she said, with no change in her face.

"When there is one. Marcello is too proud to ask you to hurry."

My mouth fell open.

She patted my cheek, once, hard, and walked back to her seat.

Marcy made a sound like a hiccup.

"Ready?" she said.

"No," I said. "Let's go."

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