Ivy never anticipates being excluded from her closest friend’s wedding until she shows up and finds out the startling reality. The bridegroom? Someone she’s known since childhood. The treachery? Inexcusable. Ivy has to choose between confronting the groom or permanently leaving as her history and present collide.
I chuckled the first time Amber’s wedding was brought up.
“Wait, Amber who?” I asked, utterly preoccupied with the enormous piece of cheesecake before me and sipping my coffee.
There was silence at the table. Four sets of eyes looked at me as if I had just admitted to killing someone.
“Are you serious, Ivy?” At last, Lauren inquired. “Amber Amber. “Our Amber.”
My stomach dropped.
“She would have informed me, no. Of course! You people are simply mocking me.
Jack shifted uneasily, nearly toppling his coffee.
“She sent out the invitations weeks ago, Ivy. “Almost a month,” he remarked.
I almost spilled my coffee.
I never received my invitation.
I initially told myself it was an error. Perhaps it was misplaced in the mail. Or perhaps she was holding off on telling me face-to-face?
It didn’t make sense, though! We always talked about being each other’s bridesmaids when we were kids, so what was this?
Weeks went by. They sent out more invitations. In anticipation of sharing Amber’s special day with her, I noticed that a few of my other friends were tagging her in their social media posts.
We are very excited to honor you!
Amber, you will be the most stunning bride!
A bachelorette celebration!
They purchased dresses.
Lauren called me and said, “I got this beautiful midnight blue dress, Ives,” “My grandmother’s earrings will complete the ensemble flawlessly. Have you made up your mind about your outfit yet?
“Lauren, she still hasn’t invited me,” I replied. “So…”
Amber wasn’t asked why. I waited. I also offered her every chance to tell me. However, she never did. Not even when we went for a manicure.
I wanted to see whether she would be honest with me, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend time with her. Or, for that matter, anything related to her wedding. To be honest, I was astonished when she consented to accompany me.
Amber grinned at me and added, “I’m going with a neutral nail,”
She didn’t even have on her engagement ring when I looked down at her hand.
The word “Beautiful,” I said. “I’m going with a fiery red.”
She was ready to conceal this important secret from me, but what had I done to her? Had I done her any harm?
Was she under the impression that I would call off her wedding and take her and her groom with me?
What on earth?
But I had a gut feeling that something wasn’t quite right. I had to find out why Amber was avoiding me.
I therefore crashed it on the wedding day.
Since that nail appointment and since the wedding conversation was getting out of control, I hadn’t spoken to Amber. Lauren shared screenshots of her posts with me on social media, and she had even banned me.
She said, “Sorry, Ives,” one afternoon while we were enjoying some ice cream in the park. “I have no idea what’s going on with this girl. Have you attempted to speak with her?
Confessioning, “We got our nails done a few weeks ago,” However, I didn’t ask her outright. She had no jewelry on, not even a ring. She probably simply doesn’t want me there.
Now, however, I stood in front of the venue and watched as people filed in, cheerful banter and laughter bursting from their lips. I was really uncomfortable. Most of the folks present were people I knew. I was close to Amber’s family because we had been friends for so long.
She would have informed me. She ought to have informed me.
However, why didn’t she?
Any reference to a wedding, whether from Amber’s social media or our friends, made me think of the last time we had spoken.
We had been sitting on the floor of her flat, sharing a bottle of wine. I had circled a dress in one of the wedding magazines we were sharing because I knew she would adore it.
That night, she had been silent. tense. I assumed she was under stress from her job, so I dismissed it.
“Why do you have so many wedding magazines, anyway?” I had inquired.
She answered, “Because it’s the next project I’m working on,” with caution. “Creating and designing a bridal gown. I’ll gain more clients if I do this correctly, Ivy. I am aware of that.
Was she telling lies? Was she also organizing her wedding at that time?
I now reenacted her face as I questioned her about her ideal wedding gown, her hands holding her wine glass a bit too tightly. When I questioned her about her ideal husband, things became even worse.
“We’ve grown up from wanting movie stars as our grooms,” I chuckled. “So, do you have a visual when you think about it?”
Her words, “You live in your head too much, Ivy,” dismissed me.
That’s when I should have realized something wasn’t right.
I didn’t enter covertly like in a dramatic film sequence. I simply entered with a confident demeanor, attempting to give the impression that I was meant to be there.
I didn’t want to stick out even when I was choosing my outfit. I didn’t want to stand out; I just wanted to appear lovely enough for the situation.
With its exquisite décor and gentle golden lighting, the location was breathtaking. It was flawless. Amber’s mark was all over it. She had given her wedding her all.
As they made their way to their seats, guests mingled while enjoying the beautiful and gentle music.
I briefly persuaded myself that this was all the result of some terrible miscommunication.
till I entered the main hall, where people had already begun to settle in.
And you know what? The room fell silent.
Others gave me pitying glances while others gazed and whispered. As if they had just seen a terrible event.
I felt like I was about to pass out from the power of my stomach twisting.
Ivy, keep breathing, I told myself.
But really, what in the world was happening?
Then I caught sight of her.
Like a deer caught in headlights, Amber stood at the front of the room wearing a stunning white dress.
Then I caught sight of him.
My father was standing at the altar with his arm around Amber, wearing a slick black tuxedo.
That’s the same father that left me when I was ten. I hadn’t seen the same father since.
The world became blurry all of a sudden. And I had the impression that the floor had vanished entirely beneath me. My mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Amber was aware.
This was something she had known all along. That is the reason I was not invited.
I had been unaware of this.
I wanted to disappear by burying myself in the earth.
Then my dad said something.
When he shouted my name, I felt like I was ten years old again, waiting for a man who never returned. His voice was deeper than I remembered.
However, I was no longer that young girl.
Furthermore, I refused to allow them to act as though this was commonplace.
I inhaled deeply before moving forward, my heels making a sound as they hit the shiny floor.
The visitors remained motionless, their gazes flitting between my father, Amber, and myself.
Amber.
This was something the girl who had been my confidante, dearest friend, and sister in all but blood had been keeping from me.
I looked at my dad. He had an unreadable face.
I was looking for anything—guilt, regret, anything—but all I could find was hesitation.
As if he wasn’t sure if he should even recognize me.
I gave him no options.
“You.” My heart was a raging storm inside, but I spoke steadily.
“You’re going to stand there like nothing happened?”
As he swallowed, his fingers twitched at his sides, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.
“I… Ivy…”
Then, with beseeching eyes, Amber hurried forward and moved between us.
“Listen, I was going to tell you…”
“When, Amber?” I lost my temper. “Prior to or following the honeymoon? Or perhaps during the time you were expecting my half-sibling?”
She grimaced.
“I didn’t know how to…”
“How to what?” My voice broke. “You told me you were getting married to my dad? “The man who abandoned me at the age of ten?”
I could hardly hear the gasps that echoed across the audience.
“Why at this time? Why Amber, after all these years? Why her?
My father exhaled slowly, as if this awkward confrontation—rather than the reckoning he deserved—was simply massaging his temples.
“I know I owe you an explanation.”
I sneered.
“You owe me more than that.”
He let out a breath and looked directly at me.
“I left because I had to, Ivy, not because I wanted to.”
I let out a loud laugh. It sounded harsh and hollow.
“I thought you were killed or something because of you. You gave me the impression that I wasn’t worthy of a farewell.
Amber was now crying and dabbing at her eyes as though she had misplaced something.
I spoke sharply as I turned to face her.
“How about you? When did you decide that marrying my father, who is missing, was a good idea?
She averted her gaze, her face shadowed by remorse.
“Well, congratulations, I guess,” I replied. “You are now formally family. Hopefully, it was worthwhile.
I pivoted on my heel and made a beeline for the door.
“Please, Ivy. Darling, I don’t want to lose you once more.”
I didn’t turn around, but I stopped. When I spoke, my voice sounded distant and icy.
I pleaded, “Please, Philip,” “Years ago, you lost me. You simply didn’t care enough to look.
I left my best friend’s wedding after saying that. The wedding of my father.
Ultimately, I left both of their lives behind.
I sat in my automobile outside my house that night.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Amber and my father, and my head was still spinning. A part of me was curious to learn more… similar to how they had first met and bonded. I didn’t care enough, though. I was too wounded.
I got an SMS from Amber.
Ivy I’m so sorry. Talk to me, please.
My hands trembled as I gazed at the letter.
I then carefully erased it.
The streetlight flashed outside.
I felt as though I had finally quit waiting by the window for the first time in years.
Why should we have waited for this man? And awaiting Amber’s realization of her error?
No, I’m grateful. I was finished.
How would you have responded?
Here’s another story for you if you liked this one.
Davina never anticipated disloyalty to call off her sister Clara’s wedding when she promised her $10,000. Davina must correct Clara when she insists on getting the money in spite of her involvement in the wedding fiasco. A lesson about consequences, loyalty, and unforeseen turns that you don’t anticipate…
Although this work has been fictionalized for artistic reasons, it is based on actual individuals and events. To preserve privacy and improve the story, names, characters, and specifics have been altered. Any likeness to real people—living or dead—or real events is entirely accidental and not the author’s intention.
The publisher and author disclaim all liability for any misunderstanding and offer no guarantees regarding the veracity of events or character portrayals. This narrative is presented “as is,” with the characters’ viewpoints expressing themselves and not the author’s or publisher’s.
