I smiled faintly.
“But you and Grace never made me feel that way.”
Grace looked at me.
“Of course we didn’t.”
“You thought I was an ordinary woman living in a small apartment. Sometimes I was too exhausted to go out. Sometimes I barely had enough time to see you. And you stayed.”
Lily shook her head.
“Amelia, we were your friends. That’s what friends do.”
I laughed through my tears.
“I know that now.”
I reached for both their hands.
“Promise me something.”
“Anything,” Grace said.
“If I ever start making excuses for someone who treats me badly again, please tell me.”
Lily squeezed my hand.
“Oh, believe me. We will.”
For the first time all day, I laughed properly.
My mother smiled.
“Come home, sweetheart.”
I looked once more at the room where I had expected to celebrate my wedding.
Then I turned toward the people waiting for me.
