I refused at first, but she begged, reminding us that guests were already traveling. Eventually, I agreed.
But I made the rules clear.
“No cutting flowers. No heavy furniture on the soft lawn. Nothing inside gets damaged or moved. And every piece of trash leaves with you.”
“Of course,” she said.
On the wedding morning, my aunt suddenly collapsed. Zac and I rushed to the hospital and missed the ceremony. Before going inside, I called Kelsey.
“The rules still apply.”
“Yes, Nadia. I remember the sacred flowers.”
My aunt stabilized late that night. We returned to the lake house the following morning.
A handmade cushion lay soaked beside the driveway. Cups covered the lawn, bottles sat near the dock, and deep tracks crossed the grass.
Then I saw the wedding arch.
