The night before they were supposed to leave for Florida, Madeleine waited in the living room for Brad to get there. He was spending the night, and then they were taking off from Lexington in the morning. When he arrived, she threw her arms around him. “I’m so excited!”
“Uh, Mattie, I have to talk to you,” he said glumly.
Her smile faded. “You’re breaking up with me now? Three days before my brother’s wedding?”
“No, of course not!” he exclaimed. “I have a problem. I can’t go this weekend.”
“What? Why not?”
“They need me to work on Saturday and Sunday.” He paused. He worked full-time at an office to support himself for school. “It’s not an option. The computer system went nuts and anyone who was supposed to be off for anything other than an emergency has to come in.”
“But this is your girlfriend’s brother’s wedding!” Madeleine cried.
“Yeah, but it’s not like I’m standing up in the wedding or anything.” He touched her cheek softly. “If I could get out of it, I would, but they really need me.”
“Okay, I understand. Can you take me to the airport tomorrow morning?” she asked.
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss that for anything.”