5

With a final intake of breath to steel myself, I cross to the door the same time it is pushed open to reveal the same man from earlier, the one who held the car door to receive me and Mr. Alfred this morning, he might have also been the one who drove us here, but I hadn’t been paying attention. He gives me a curt nod before taking a step back and to the said, motioning with his hand for me to walk ahead of him.

Don’t tremble, Katy, I think to myself.

I say the words again and again that I’m doing this for Dad because he is sick and he asked me to.

You can do this Kate. I say once more, flexing my fingers trying not to strangle the banquet of roses I’m holding, willing my knees to hold me up, just keep breathing, I think as we come to a stop in front of what must be the marriage register.

The driver walks up and pushes the door open without knocking.

With a dip of my chin, I enter.

The first thing I realize is that this is a private affair thank God, I dont think I would