The backyard was absolutely stunning. White chairs were arranged in tidy rows along the aisle, all facing the grand oak tree where Nancy and Josh would say their vows. Delicate string lights hung from the branches, creating a cozy, golden glow as the sun started to set. Beyond the tree, the lake sparkled in the fading light, making it the perfect backdrop for what felt like a fairy tale wedding.
Peter hugged me from behind and kissed my hair. “It looks incredible, Evelyn.”
I let out a sigh, leaning against him. “I really hope Nancy feels the same way. I’ve been working for months to get everything just right.”
“She’s going to love it,” he said confidently. “Most people would have just provided the space, but you’ve organized the whole event.”
“She’s your best friend,” I reminded him. “I just wanted her special day to be perfect.”
The crunch of tires on the gravel driveway caught our attention. I looked over to see Nancy and Josh arriving, their car filled with last-minute items for the wedding. I felt a rush of excitement—I was eager to see how she would react.
Nancy got out of the car, her dress swaying gently in the wind. But instead of the happiness I anticipated, she scanned the setup with a look of clear disapproval.
“The chairs are all wrong,” she said, hardly glancing my way.
I was taken aback by her tone. “What do you mean?”
“I wanted them arranged in a semicircle, not in straight lines.” She pulled out her phone and started scrolling quickly. “Didn’t you get my text?”
I checked my messages but found nothing. “I don’t see any message about a semicircle.”
She sighed dramatically. “Okay, we’ll just fix it tomorrow. Are the flowers at least correct this time?”
“They’re coming fresh in the morning, just like we planned,” I said, trying to keep a smile on my face.
Nancy hardly paid attention to my response and quickly turned her focus elsewhere. Josh, who was standing behind her, offered me a faint smile, but it didn’t help with the awkward vibe hanging in the air.
A few minutes later, as vendors started arriving and deliveries stacked up, Nancy pulled me aside, her face hard to read.
“We need to talk,” she said.
A small knot twisted in my stomach. “What’s going on?”
Her gaze flicked to Josh and then back to me. “Why didn’t anyone tell me you used to date him?”
Her words felt like a punch. I struggled to process what she was saying. “Wait… what?”
She crossed her arms, looking serious. “I just found out from your husband’s friend, Willie. Apparently, you and Josh had something going on back in college?”
It suddenly clicked. Something? If you could even call it that. Josh and I had dated for a short time during our freshman year—just two months before we realized we were better off as friends. We hadn’t talked about it in years.
“That was over ten years ago, Nancy. It was nothing.”
“Well, I really don’t care,” she replied, her tone sharp. “I don’t want you at my wedding.”
A shocked silence hung in the air between us. “Nancy, this is my home.”
“And I’m grateful you’re letting us use it,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “Peter can still come, but not you.”
I stared at her, trying to understand the ridiculousness of her words. After all the hard work, planning, and time I had put into making her day special—she was uninviting me? Because of some silly college fling?
“You can’t be serious,” I finally managed to say.
“Oh, I am,” she answered, her voice cold as ice. “It’s my wedding, and I don’t want to feel uneasy on my special day. This isn’t about you.”
I struggled to find the right words, my hands clenched tightly at my sides. “After everything I’ve done for you?”
She laughed derisively. “I never asked you to do any of that.”
I was about to say something, but then I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. It was Peter.
“What’s happening here?” he asked, looking back and forth between us.
“She doesn’t want me at the wedding,” I replied, my tone flat.
Peter’s relaxed smile disappeared. “What did you just say?”
Nancy rolled her eyes. “I just found out she used to date Josh, and I don’t think it’s right for her to be there.”
Peter let out a surprised laugh. “So, let me get this straight. You’re using our place for free. My wife has spent months helping you plan this wedding, and now you’re saying she can’t come?”
Nancy waved her hands, brushing off his anger. “Don’t be so over the top. It’s just one day.”
“No, Nancy,” Peter replied, his tone eerily calm. “You can’t insult my wife and still think you can have your wedding here.”
Her expression turned to one of anger. “You can’t just throw us out! The wedding is tomorrow! Where are we supposed to go?”
Peter folded his arms. “That’s not our concern.”
Her voice escalated into a frantic shout. “You two are the most selfish people I’ve ever met! After everything I’ve done, you should be thankful I even invited you! You owe me this!”
“Owe you?” I echoed, laughing in disbelief. “I don’t owe you anything, Nancy. I welcomed you into my home. I spent months ensuring your wedding was perfect. And the moment you thought I was no longer helpful, you just discarded me.”
Josh, who had been standing awkwardly off to the side, finally spoke up. “Maybe we should all just take a deep breath and talk this out.”
Nancy shot him a glare. “Are you really siding with them?!”
Josh let out a sigh. “I just think this is getting way out of control.”
Ignoring him, Nancy directed all her anger at Peter and me. “You’ll regret this,” she hissed. “I’m going to sue you. You’re ruining my wedding!”
Peter shrugged. “Go for it. We never signed anything.”
Seeing she had no other choices, Nancy screamed in frustration and stormed off to her car. “You’ll both regret this!”
The next hour was complete chaos. Nancy yelled at the delivery teams, tossed a pile of wedding programs onto the driveway, and even smashed a set of dishes in her rage. Josh, looking completely worn out, finally managed to persuade her to leave.
As their car drove away quickly, Peter looked at me, his anger fading. “Are you alright?”
I took a deep breath, still trying to understand everything that had happened. “Yeah. I just… can’t believe it.”
“You deserve better friends,” he said plainly.
I leaned against him, feeling comforted by his presence. “Yeah, I do.”
The next day, we found out from some friends that Nancy rushed to find a last-minute place for the wedding. It happened, but it wasn’t the beautiful outdoor celebration she had planned. A week later, Josh texted Peter:
“Nancy’s still upset, but I wanted to say I’m sorry for everything.”
Peter showed me the text, but we both decided not to reply. Some relationships just aren’t worth fixing.
Looking back, I have no regrets. That day taught me something valuable:
Never let anyone make you feel small in your own space. Don’t sacrifice your self-respect for people who wouldn’t do the same for you. And most importantly—always be brave enough to stand up for yourself.