“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Do the doctors know?”

“Yes. And they’re all for it. They were going to let you go home tomorrow anyway, so once we explained how important today is they agreed one day wasn’t going to make much of a difference. You just have to promise to take it easy and rest when you need to.”

“I’ll promise your firstborn child if it means I get out of here. Where’s Mum?”

“Finalizing things at home.”

“For what?”

“The wedding. Like I said.” Amanda rolls her eyes as if I am being dense.

“Wait, I thought we canceled it all. Or postponed it or whatever.”

Kate shakes her head. “We decided not to, just in case. And, as it turns out, we made the right decision. That is if you still want to go through with it today. No pressure if you’re not feeling up to it.”

“Well…” I exhale slowly. I’d just assumed that the whole thing was off. Could I really do this today? Without James present? I look at Kate and Amanda’s expectant faces and think about how much work has gone into this. And I know that if I don’t do it today, there are no guarantees that I’ll get another chance. I nod. “Let’s do it. I might not feel like partying, but I could do with the distraction. Besides, I know family and friends will have traveled from all over for this. I don’t want to let anyone down.”

“They will understand if you’d rather not.”

I turn and put my feet on the floor firmly. “No. I’m not letting this damn disease take another thing away from me. Let’s get out of here, but I need to make a quick phone call first.”

Some of the doctors and nurses gather to see me off, a few with tears in their eyes. They give me a card, wishing me all the best for my big day. I am grateful to them all, but I hope, on a professional level, that I never have to see any of them again. The ride home from the hospital is bittersweet. The countryside seems brighter, but my heart is definitely sadder. My father has outdone himself and breakfast is the full monty. Eggs—both scrambled and fried—crispy bacon, golden crunchy hash browns, fried mushrooms, toast, sliced avocado, some salmon slices and hollandaise sauce. I pick and taste what I can. I still have no appetite, but I know I will need my strength.

Sophie and Kelly arrive at ten, giddy with excitement. Seeing them, I feel affection for them both; they are lovely women who only want to see me happy. As do so many. Amanda shows me the Facebook page. There are thousands of posts wishing me all the best for the day. I feel a twinge of sadness that I was unable to take them all up on their offers of help or things for the wedding, but I just have to hope they will understand. Something tells me they will.