She'd been standing in the car park for nearly an hour, staring at the hall. Working up the nerve to go in. Or not to go in. She really wasn't sure which anymore.
Because if nothing else, after all the excuses she'd given Amy for why she couldn't possibly be her Maid of Honor, if she showed up now... Amy would probably kill her. And actually going to their wedding was still taking it a bit too far, even for her.
Only there'd been this feeling building up in her all day. An urge so strong as to be almost a physical need to go and to be there. As if something – something Big – was about to happen. And she needed to be there for it.
Now.
She stepped forward.
"Hey, kid."
She turned quickly, startled at the sound of the voice, and wondered how the woman had managed to get even two car lengths away without her having heard something. Or sensed something. By the other woman's clothing, she was obviously late for the reception. Oddly, though, she held a slightly battered blue leather bound book in one hand and a letter-sized envelope in the other.
Mels wondered briefly what this woman would say if she only knew Mels was at least as old as she was. Probably older. Though Mels could only wish she had the other woman's figure despite her age. Or her mass of gold brown curls. "Who you calling kid?" she asked instead.
A smile broke across the other woman's face but she didn't answer. Instead, she set the envelope down on the car bonnet beside her and, tapping it by way of invitation, said, "Do yourself a favor."
Mels stepped forward, the strange woman backing away as she approached, keeping her distance. Reaching the envelope, Mels grabbed it and ripped it open. Inside, in her name, were a bus ticket to Heathrow and a receipt for an all-expense paid trip to...
She looked up. "How'd you know..?" But the woman was gone, leaving as quickly and as silently as she had come.
Mels looked down at the papers in her hand. Egypt. She'd dreamed of seeing the pyramids but known it was impossible. Things like that weren't for her.
Now, though...
Suddenly, crashing her parents' wedding didn't seem that important after all. They were leaving on their Honeymoon tomorrow, anyway. She wasn't likely to miss - well, anything - while she was gone.
Smiling, she set off across the car park. Away from the hall. She had a bus to catch.
Later, Mels recognized the woman in the mirror and wondered why she'd been there. Would be there.
Whatever.
Until, later still, she finally knew.