Maisie
The castle was quiet when I woke up, pale sunlight breaking through the clouds and bathing the room
in soft light. I could’ve taken it as a sign that everything would be okay, but thunder growled in the
distance and I groaned, wondering if that was the sign I should’ve been taking instead.
Either way, win or lose, I climbed out of bed, moving on autopilot as I showered and dressed in
sweats and a hoodie. When I’d packed, my thoughts on bringing this had been that it would be easier to
take it off without mussing my hair once the stylist was done with it.
Now, I didn’t even know if the stylist was still coming. It was my wedding day, but I had no idea if
Callum had called it off or not. It was entirely possible that he was halfway across the ocean by now,
sipping scotch on his jet and arranging to meet with an army of lawyers once he got back to the States.
My hair was damp and clinging to my neck, my mood equally lackluster as I moved around my room
with no real purpose. Every motion felt detached, like I was going through someone else’s routine instead
of my own.
A big part of me still couldn’t believe this was happening. That my wedding was taking place in this
castle, surrounded by stone, history, and the kind of beauty I’d previously only seen in magazines or
movie sets.
When I’d been little, I’d fantasized about my wedding day. Obviously. My brothers had refused to
pretend to be my groom, so I’d settled for a giant teddy bear instead.
As I’d gotten older, I’d often thought about the dress, the flowers, and the music, but I never could’ve
imagined it here. On the other hand, I also never would’ve imagined waking up on this day and feeling so
completely empty.
Because in all those fantasies, the groom showed up. The man I loved, who I trusted, who I believed
would be by my side through it all, I had thought I would know for sure that he would be there. Now, I
had a man that I loved. A man I’d learned to trust and who had been by my side, but actions I’d taken
years ago might have ripped him away from me.
I pulled the robe tighter around my waist and wondered for the umpteenth time if Callum was even
still in the building. I wondered if he’d woken up and decided I wasn’t someone he could trust. That he
didn’t want me anymore.
Before those kinds of thoughts could drive me mad, my door creaked open and my mom appeared in
the doorway, barefoot and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Her eyes immediately softened when
she saw me.
“What’s going on, baby? Yesterday, I thought that maybe it was all just weighing on you, but now...”
She trailed off and sighed, striding toward me and gently pulling me into her arms. “It’s more than that,
isn’t it? What happened?”
“He knows,” I said, my voice tight and fragile, but that was all I could manage before the door flew
open again and CC bustled in.
“Good morning, ladies. I come bearing hair and makeup.” She practically dragged two stylists in
behind her, each armed with brushes, sprays, and metal suitcases that looked more like they’d been
designed to carry bombs than beauty products.
My mom sighed but surrendered to the chaos. Laney appeared moments later, her hair also damp. She
adjusted her own robe, seemingly having decided that was better than clothes. Sadie fussed over all the
different brushes, wondering out loud if they’d help detangle the hair of some of the mangier strays that
came into the shelter.
Meanwhile, CC had started issuing instructions like a general pr eparing for battle, making sure we all
knew exactly when we were expected to be where. She also arranged for breakfast to be brought up and
an entire coffee station to be put together on a side table.
As I watched her, I let myself be in awe of her strength and her ability to get things done. In doing so,
I also allowed myself to be sw ept along,
floating through the motions as my hair was curled, my makeup applied, and my gown steamed and
pr epared.
In the midst of the laughter, chatter, and the soft clinking of mugs, glasses, and plates against
counters, I felt completely untethered. I was surrounded by the women I’d come to love. Pr eparing to
marry the man of my dreams in the most gorgeous setting ever.
I should’ve been joyful, sparkling as I got ready for the happiest day of my life. Instead, I couldn’t
shake the sense of dread curdling in the pit of my stomach. Is he going to show up? Will he ever be able to
forgive me for ke eping it from him?
Around me, the room was a whirlwind of pins and sprays, but I could barely focus. I wanted to be
excited. God, how I wished I could’ve been excited. If he did show up, today was the day I was marrying
Callum Westwood.
He was gorgeous, funny, charming, and the kind of man who made me laugh no matter what else was
going on. He made me feel safe and adored, like I had finally found my home. And yet, I couldn’t allow
myself to get sw ept up in the fantasy.
Not fully. Not when my insides were still so raw after our fight and so many issues remained
unresolved. Not when the silence between us still ached in my chest.
I tried to smile when Laney fussed over the hem of my dress and Sadie polished my shoes, but it was
weak. My mom hovered nearby, gently brushing away stray curls, her eyes soft with concern. CC clucked
at my makeup, but all I could think about was whether he was even still here.
Brody appeared a little while later, dressed in his tux with his hair perfectly combed and his bow tie
slightly crooked. His eyes sparkled as he grinned at me. “You look like a movie star again, Mommy.”
I felt my knees buckle a little. “You look so dashing and grown up. Who are you and what have you
done with my little boy?”
He squealed with laughter and ran into my arms while the others in the room oohed and aahed over
us. A photographer who’d been zipping in and out all morning appeared again, like magic, snapped a few
shots, and then dragged Brody away with him for photos with the boys.
Eventually, my mom must’ve noticed that I was on the verge of tears because she rounded everyone
up. “Let’s give Maisie this final hour before
the ceremony to herself. We can’t have her walking into the ballroom already exhausted.”
CC laughed and agreed. Laney and Sadie exchanged glances but waited for the stylists to pack up
before they disappeared with the moms. As fast as the chaos had arrived, my room was empty again, quiet
and private.
Tears burned the backs of my eyes as I let my hands drift over the fabric of my beautiful dress. I stood
alone in front of the window, watching the gray skies and the pouring rain outside. Right downstairs in
this very castle, the ballroom was ready. CC had been hoping for a break in the rain so the ceremony
could take place outside, but there had been no such luck.
I couldn’t imagine anything better than the ballroom and the grand hall. It was a fairy tale come to
life. But I didn’t deserve any of this. None of it. Not the castle, or the attention, or the day.
I’d k ept secrets and lied because I’d been too much of a coward to tell the truth. It made me feel like
the worst person ever. I closed my eyes for a moment, bracing myself to st ep outside only to find out that
Callum was gone.
The soft creak of the door made my eyes fly open again and I inhaled de eply, pasting on yet another
smile and spinning around, expecting to find either Laney or Sadie behind me, but it wasn’t either of
them.
It was Callum. His blue eyes were wide as he took me in from head to toe. My heart lurched, skipping
and stumbling over itself. He’s still here. And he’s in a tux!
Everything else, the guilt, the fear, and even the doubt vanished for a heartbeat and I realized that I
had been waiting for this. Waiting for him to show up. To be here.
His gaze held mine, unwavering, and in that one look, I felt a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this
was the sign. Maybe this was the start of the life we were about to begin. Together. We just had to get
through one more conversation first.