Part 2 — The Bride Won’t Stand
“Nick…”
Renee’s smile vanished.
The ballroom was filled with applause as guests raised their glasses for the first family toast.
Everyone stood.
Except the bride.
Nicholas leaned closer.
“What?”
“I can’t get up.”
At first, he laughed.
“Stop messing around.”
“I’m serious.”
Renee gripped the edge of the table and pushed.
Nothing.
The chair refused to move.
A tiny crack appeared in her perfect smile.
Around them, guests were beginning to notice.
“Is she okay?”
“What’s happening?”
“Why isn’t the bride standing?”
The toastmaster awkwardly lowered his microphone.
Nicholas bent down beside her.
“Come on.”
He grabbed her arm and pulled.
The chair lifted with her.
Gasps rippled through the ballroom.
Renee immediately dropped back down.
The chair slammed against the floor.
A nervous laugh escaped from somewhere in the crowd.
Then another.
Then silence.
Her mother rushed forward.
“Renee?”
“I don’t know what’s wrong!”
She tried standing again.
The chair came with her.
This time everyone saw it.
The elegant white chair was attached to the back of her wedding dress.
A wave of whispers swept through the room.
Nicholas’s face turned pale.