PART 19

One afternoon in late winter, a package arrived from the wedding photographer.

I had forgotten that the contract included a small collection of preview images taken before the ceremony.

I left the parcel unopened on the kitchen counter for three days.

Then, after Mabel went to bed, I made tea and opened it at the table.

The photographs showed flowers, empty pews, the ribbon on Mabel’s dress, and Matthew smiling near the altar.