Mrs. Remington appeared at the foyer door, followed by Reed and Alina and Cora. Their faces were a combination of shock and anger. Reed looked ready to punch a wall or throw a few altar candles.
Iva's eyes caught the minister, whispering to the organist. The wedding prelude abruptly stopped and the elderly woman blinked and gazed about the room. Conversations inside the chapel grew louder.
Mrs. Remington twisted her fingers, beads of perspiration breaking out over her forehead. "Cody, we need to do something!" she hissed at her husband.
"Do what, my dear? Iva, do you want me to whisk you away?" he asked gently. Tears pricked at her eyes at his solicitation for her feelings. He knew she wouldn't want to face anyone. But it was already too late. The guests were rising from their pews. Walking through the doors and into the garland-decorated foyer.
Stiffly, Iva sat in an upright chair, enduring the awkward glares, the whispers of mockery. Their faces were a blur and she felt cold as ice.
Later, she wouldn't even be able to recall who had been in attendance, except for her best friend Alina standing by her side like a fierce protective lioness to take down anyone who said something snide and ugly.
One by one, the guests in their chiffon dresses and suits and ties filed out of the church. All but one young woman. Celine Chanler. Her previous rival for Noah's affection. Of course, she'd come to witness Iva's moment of shame.
The murmurs began.
"What a waste of good time," a bobbed-haired woman muttered to her husband as they exited the church.
"Now, now, dear, don't be rude. The poor girl doesn't deserve that," he replied.
"I heard she was...rather, is a gold digger, trying to secure wealth by marrying someone like Noah," a high-pitched voice hissed behind Iva.
"But let's be honest, what can a burger-frier like her bring to the table?" a man sneered, his lip curling in disgust.
His eyes met with Iva's and he looked away instantly.
"Children, perhaps?" another voice chimed in.
More tears seemed to pile up in Iva's eyes. She began to sniff. Her veil was the only thing that hid her cries. At some point, the sniffing gave her out.
"Worthless little things, I'm sure."
"Didn't you hear? Her family's business is failing. They're nothing but beggars and classy hooligans," a plump woman spat.
Iva closed her teary eyes, hoping and praying her family didn't hear that. But they did---given the way her mom clenched her fist, while her head bent down. None of those people there were invited by her or her family. They're all Noah's invitees. She felt so worthless---bringing nothing but insults to the family. It's not like she was with Noah for his money. She genuinely loved him.
Celine Chanler's face was unreadable, but she had the good sense not to come over and give an air kiss, or pretend any sort of friendship or sincerity.
The air crackled with unspoken words, and then Celine clicked her heels down the parquet corridor toward the parking lot, but not before pausing to sign the guest book with a flourish of the feather-plumed pen.
Iva had a sudden vision of driving the pen straight into the woman's jugular. "Does she know where Noah is? Is that where she's headed to help him look for their witness?"
Alina gripped her shoulder. "Don't start making things up to torture yourself."
"Is the groom not coming?" A man whispered to his wife.
"I don't think so," the elderly woman replied.
Like an automaton, Iva brushed a finger across the screen of her mobile phone. A text had just appeared. Her heart thumped with both hope and dread. It was from Noah. Thirteen words.
Sorry about the craziness. We'll get married another day. Not end of world. Promise.
Iva handed the phone to Alina who read it and cursed. "That son of a" Before her friend could finish, Iva tugged the phone out of Alina's curled fingers and threw it across the foyer where it smashed against the wall and broke into dozen pieces.