My name is Tessa. Not long ago, I thought my life was going just how I wanted it to. I was 35 years old, engaged to a man I loved, and only a few days away from getting married to him. For the past eight months, planning my wedding had been my full-time job. I carefully planned every detail of the wedding, from the food to the guest lists, music playlists, furniture, and seating charts.
And I loved it. As a baby, I would put on my mom’s old bridesmaid dresses and twirl around, thinking about this day. That dream was finally coming true.
Jared was the man who made everything appear easy.
Jared and I met at a friend’s housewarming party two years ago. He came in to help me open a stubborn wine bottle in the kitchen. He had a nice smile and brown eyes.
He inquired, “Do you need help?”
“Only if you promise not to laugh at me,” I answered with a laugh.
He quickly popped the cork, poured us both a glass, and added, “To the joys of being semi-functional adults.”
We hit it off right away. We started with one date, then two, then weekends, holidays, and inside jokes that we shared. He worked in marketing, always made me laugh, and was so kind to me that I felt lucky to be around him. When he asked me to marry him last Christmas and slipped a ring in my dessert, I didn’t think twice.
“Yes,” I answered.
Then things took a turn.
A week before the wedding, Jared started to act weird. He was generally on his phone and not paying attention. He didn’t make it clear that he was going on a “bachelor trip” with two of his friends. He said it was just a quick excursion to go hiking, drink beer, and hang out with guys. I didn’t push. I also brought his favorite snacks for the trail.
I spotted Dylan, one of his groomsmen, at the mall three days before he was set to leave.
“Hey, Tessa!” “Good for you for being okay with the closure trip,” he said in a relaxed way.
“Trip to the end?” I asked, my voice tight.
He laughed. “Yes, you know, going on vacation with your ex before the wedding.” A brave step.
I grinned hard, as if I knew what was going on. “Yeah.” Jared is great at helping others with their feelings.
Dylan agreed. “That flight in the morning will be hard, though.”
I asked, “Early?”
“Yes.” Tuesday at 8:40 a.m. “He told me to take care of it.”
I mumbled something about the weather, made a joke about packing for Bali, and saw Dylan’s face get all scrunched up in confusion.
“Where in Bali? I thought they were going to Cancun.
He walked away, not knowing that he had just ruined everything for me.
I Didn’t Cry—I Called
I was in my car for a whole ten minutes. I didn’t shout. I didn’t shed a tear. I just peered out the window in front of me. Then I called someone I hadn’t talked to in years on my phone.
A Surprise at the Airport
The next morning, I put on a white sundress to go to the airport. But I wasn’t the only one.
At the security barrier, I noticed Jared and Miranda, his ex. They were grinning as if nothing could bother them.
I moved ahead. “Jared!”
He turned his back. At first, there was confusion. Then came fear.
Liam was right next to me. Liam was tall, handsome, and calm.
I grinned and said, “Liam.” “Are you ready to go?”
Jared blinked. “What’s going on? Is this a joke?
I smiled nicely. “You are going on a trip to make the last arrangements before the wedding.” We thought we’d do the same thing. “You know, symmetry.”
Liam put out his hand. “Closure is very important, man. We all just want to get our new lives off to a good start.
We held hands and walked by them.
The Idea Behind the Grin
In college, Liam and I went out. We hadn’t chatted in a while, but I remembered him as witty, steady, and, most importantly, loyal.
I called Liam to tell him all Dylan had told me.
He asked, “Do you want me to go to Mexico with you to get even with your cheating fiancé?”
“Do you still like margaritas?” I replied.
He laughed. “Send me the schedule.”
That trip turned out to be more than just getting back at someone. We talked for hours, walked along the shore, remembered things that had happened in the past, and said things we had been keeping to ourselves for years.
By the end of the week, we weren’t faking anymore.
A New Beginning
Six months later, Liam moved to my city. We got married that spring in an intimate ceremony with just our closest friends and family.
No trouble. No secrets. Only tranquility.
Jared emailed me months later. It said, “I guess your closure worked.”
Yes, it did.