Caroline continued to stare at him, her eyes welling with tears, wondering if this was a dream. Suddenly, she heard her mother at her side,
"Just so you know," she said softly, "the exit is over there."
Caroline gave a small chuckle, although it came out like a choking sound. Her mouth was dry and she couldn't move. Suddenly, she felt Randy approach her and speak over her shoulder.
"Caroline?"
She looked back at him. He was smiling nervously, his eyes betraying his fear that Caroline was going to dump him at the altar. She didn't have the best track record with fiancés. She didn't know what to say to him.
"I..." she croaked, hoping that something, anything would come out. She looked back up at Richard, who was watching her with an open display of pain and hope on his face. The exact look Randy was giving her.
"I have to go." Caroline said, mostly to herself, and ran down the aisle. Her train snagged on one of the pews and ripped. She stumbled and twisted to survey the damage, as well as hundreds of people staring at her in astonishment. One of her friends was giving her husband five dollars.
Great. Just great.
She gathered the remains of her skirt and pushed through the doors, trying to escape the clacking of heels that was approaching fast. She ran into her dressing room and dropped the bouquet on the chair. She stared in the mirror and furiously swiped away the tears before they obliterated her make-up.
"Caroline?" said a worried voice behind her.
"Annie, I don't... I can't..." Caroline sniffed again and wiped away another tear. Annie walked over to her and took both of her hands.
"Hey, hey, hey, it's alright. It's alright." Caroline said nothing as Annie reached up and stroked her best friend's hair, tucking the stray strands behind her ear.
"What am I going to do, Annie?" she said at last. It was the only thing she could think right now.
"What do you want to do, sweetie?" she asked gently.
"I love Randy." Caroline said petulantly, "but Richard..."
"Yes?" Annie and Caroline turned to the door to see Randy standing there. He looked crushed, as though he was expecting the worst to happen. Annie turned back to Caroline,
"I'll leave the two of you to talk."