Sophia thought her dad’s wedding felt like the longest far-away wedding ever planned. It was her own careful work, and she had no regrets about how long it lasted.

 The real wedding ceremony was still a week away. Right now the big house was full of close friends and family. Other guests would arrive a day before the wedding, while some would show up on the last day.

It surprised Sophia how much she had started to depend on Julian. It happened slowly, without her noticing, until the need grew strong. Now that she saw it clearly, it felt too late to change anything. Truthfully, she did not even want...