I stepped into the fellowship room, and both of them went silent. Evan’s smile arrived a second too late. “Allison, you look incredible,” he said, reaching for my hands. I stepped back. “Say it again,” I told him. “What you promised Colleen about Monday.” Colleen stared at the floor. Evan laughed nervously and insisted I had misheard, that it was only a joke between siblings.

Before I could answer, the door opened behind me. Jenna slipped in holding a safety pin, then stopped short, her eyes on the phone in Colleen’s hand. “Allison,” she whispered, “you need to see what she just showed me in the hallway.” On the screen was a message thread, and at the top sat my name, dated a month ago. Evan lunged for the phone, and the church organ began our processional.