Daniel’s hand found mine. “Mara,” he whispered, “what’s happening?”

I looked at my brother, then at the empty glass beside his place card.

“I think,” I said softly, “Derek’s surprise arrived early.”

Derek heard me.

His eyes widened.

For the first time in my life, he looked afraid of me.

Then his knees gave out, and he fell to the floor in front of two hundred witnesses.

PART 2

The ballroom exploded into chaos.

Someone screamed. Vanessa dropped beside Derek, slapping his cheek and pleading for him to respond. My father shouted for a doctor, even though three guests were already forcing their way through the crowd—Daniel’s cousin, an emergency physician; my college roommate, a nurse practitioner; and one of my clients, a cardiologist.

I remained still in my wedding gown, my bouquet dangling from my fingers like it belonged to someone else.