Outside the bridal room door, the organ reverberated with “How Great Thou Art,” one of three songs that the organist, a last-minute replacement, knew. “That’s the third time she’s played that song,” Lena said to her mother. She leaned close to the mirror and once again checked her rosy lipstick. She didn’t often wear makeup and her face looked dollish and plastic so she wiped some off just as the door burst open and her three bridesmaids entered bearing a contraband champagne bottle held high.

“You ready?” Kerry asked, her face especially bright and cheerful with too much blush and eye shadow. Count on her to sneak in the alcohol.

It was Sara who popped the cork and poured the bubbly into those plastic flutes that Lena so hated. They always cracked when she drank from them.

“Let’s save it for after,” Margy said. “Can’t have a drunk bride.”

Kerry made a dismissive sound. “One small sip for everyone!” She held her thumb and forefinger a hairbreadth apart and laughed.

Margy handed a flute with one splash of bubbly to Lena. “Let’s cheer to a long and happy life with your great love.”

“To stellar sex and forever together,” Sara said.

“Sara,” Lena said, and pointed to her mother with a laugh.

Sara pretended to whisper. “Oh, no. Doesn’t your mom know about sex?”

Mother took the champagne bottle from Margy and poured herself a small amount into a real glass from the side table. No plastic for Elizabeth. “Oh, that,” she said with a wink. “Our children arrived in pink and blue packages.”

“Okay, enough,” Margy said. “Let’s cheer.”

“Not without my little sister,” Lena said. “Where’s Hallie?”

No one answered, each glancing around.

“Mother, do you know where she is?” Lena asked, taking the champagne bottle and walking toward the doorway.

“Darling, I’ve been in here with you the entire time.” Mother stepped forward and attempted to take the bottle from Lena’s hand. “You’re going to spill that on your dress. You know how you are.”

Yes, Lena did know how she was: klutzy. And how lovely of her mother to remind her at that moment.

“I’ll get her.” Kerry headed for the door, in such a rush she almost knocked over the brass cross on the banquet.

“No.” Lena shook her head. “Let me.” Lena wanted to find her best friend, the other half of her heart. She opened the door to an empty hallway, breathing in the aroma of mildew and incense. The ancient stone walls offered the impression of being in a castle far away, a place she’d never been. She took a few steps out and glanced left and right. “Hallie?”