“Go ask her.”

I started toward the hallway, but the church office door opened before I reached it.

Claire’s voice came from inside, low and quick, followed by Evelyn’s.

I stopped.

Sam came up beside me.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Walk in there angry.”

“I am not angry.”

He looked at my left hand.

I had been rubbing my thumb across my wedding ring finger without noticing.

There was no ring there yet.

I had tried the band on twice the night before, once to check the fit and once because the first time had made the next morning seem real.

Now I put my hand in my pocket.