“That’s a good question.” As Evan withdrew his phone, intending to call her, the front door opened in a gust of cold air as Grace arrived. He’d made sure to save her some pizza and the glass of chardonnay she would need after a long day at work. The minute she came through the door, however, he could see something was wrong. He knew her so well, better than he’d ever known anyone, and her distress was palpable.

“What’s the matter?”

As he took her coat, she looked up at him, blinking rapidly as if trying not to cry. Though he had no doubt that she was every bit as committed to him as he was to her, his heart stopped at the possibility that she might be having cold feet. “I… Um… My parents. They’re not coming.”

“What?”

“Th-they said the trip was too much for them, that they’d been trying to find a way to tell me…” She broke down into heartbroken sobs that made Evan want to kill the people who would soon be his in-laws. They’d done nothing but hurt his beloved Grace in big and small ways since he’d known her, and he’d had about enough.

He wrapped his arms around her and guided her into the formal living room his mother kept for “guests,” out of the view of the others. “I’m so sorry, honey. I hate that they would do this to you, especially so late in the game.”

“It’s what they do,” she said, sobs hiccupping through her. “Any time I’m really happy, they find a way to ruin it.”

“After this, they’ll be seeing and hearing very little from you and us. I won’t let them hurt you anymore.”

“Wh-who will give me away if my dad isn’t there?”

Evan’s heart, the heart that belonged completely to her, split right down the middle. “My dad will. You know he’d love to.”

“H-he’s nicer t-to me than m-my own f-father has ever b-been.”

“He loves you. We all do. We’re your family now. Us and your brothers and all your friends. You’re surrounded by people who’d do anything for you. Your brothers would give you away, wouldn’t they?”

“P-probably, but they’d be aw-awkward and uncomfortable. I think I might rather have your dad.”

“You can have anyone you want, and my dad would be delighted to do it.”

Because he was holding her so close, he felt her backbone stiffen and her usual fortitude return. “I’m sorry to show up in this condition when everyone’s excited.”

“Don’t apologize. Not to me or anyone else. Of course you’re upset, and with good reason, but we can’t let them ruin this amazing week that we’ve been looking forward to for so long.”

“I won’t let them ruin this for me. No way.”