Losing my mom four years ago shattered something within me. The grief didn’t diminish; it burrowed deep, intertwining itself with every aspect of my being.
She had been my anchor, my sanctuary. Before she passed, she made me promise one thing.
“Chloe, wear my wedding dress on your special day. Whether it’s for the ceremony or just a moment at the reception… let it feel like I’m there with you.”
I vowed I would.
The dress had been carefully stored in my closet ever since, waiting for the day I would fulfill that promise.
Then came Madison.
She had been in our lives for just over a year—my brother Jake’s fiancée, the woman he intended to spend his life with.
If I had to describe Madison, I’d say she was the type who issued demands instead of requests, viewing generosity as an obligation rather than a gift. But Jake was happy, so I kept my opinions to myself and played the supportive sister.
That’s why, three months before their wedding, I invited them to a cozy coffee shop. I wanted to do something nice to bridge the growing gap between us.
I should have anticipated that Madison would find a way to ruin it.
We had just settled in when I slid an envelope across the table.
Jake reached for it, but before he could open it, Madison snatched it from his hands.
She pulled out the check inside.
Ten thousand dollars.
It wasn’t a mistake. I wanted to treat my brother, to help in any way I could.
“I know weddings can be costly,” I said with a smile. “I just want you both to have a beautiful day.”
Jake’s eyes widened. “Chloe, this is… amazing. Thank you.”
But Madison barely reacted.
She placed the check down as if it were something she had anticipated, then tossed her hair over her shoulder with a sigh.
“Well, I guess that’s a good start,” she said nonchalantly. “It’ll help, but we still have so many expenses. Our wedding is going to be the most beautiful anyone has ever seen.”
A good start? Seriously?
Before I could respond, she leaned in, her tone suddenly too casual.
“Actually, Jake and I discussed something important. We’ve decided that I’ll be wearing your mom’s wedding dress for the ceremony.”
My breath caught.
“You’ve… decided?”
“Yeah,” she continued. “I’ll need it sent to my dressmaker for alterations. I’ll text you the address.”
The words hit me like a slap.
“Excuse me?” I managed to say.
Madison rolled her eyes, as if I were the unreasonable one.
“Oh, come on, Chloe. It’s just sitting in your closet, gathering dust. And honestly? You don’t even know if you’ll ever need it. Don’t fight us on this. It’s important to Jake too.”
Jake.
That’s when it hit me.
He had told her about the dress. About my mother’s last wish. And instead of honoring it, they had chosen to make it about themselves.
“Madison, my mom wanted me to wear that dress. It was her final wish. I’m not fighting you because this isn’t up for debate.”
She scoffed.
Just then, the waitress arrived, setting down our drinks and plates of cake.
“Here you go! Enjoy! And Chloe, compliments from the chef,” she added with a smile.
I barely registered her words.
Because Madison, in all her entitlement, leaned back and said the words that ignited my fury.
“Your mom’s not here anymore, is she?”
All I saw was red.
I wanted to throw my coffee in her face, flip the table, scream.
But before I could act on any of those impulses, a familiar voice interrupted.
“Excuse me, can I steal you for a second, love?”
I turned to see Mark.
Mark—my boyfriend.
He had been with me for two years. Jake had met him once, but judging by his blank expression, he probably didn’t even remember.
“Sure,” I said, grateful for the escape.
Mark took my hand and led me just far enough away that they couldn’t hear.
“I thought you were meeting with the owner?” I asked, confused.
“I did. And I just got back,” he said. “I heard everything, Chloe. And I can’t just stand by anymore.”
Before I could respond, Mark disappeared into the kitchen.
A moment later, he returned—holding a bouquet of roses.
And then, right there in the middle of the coffee shop, he got down on one knee.
“Mark,” I breathed.
His eyes met mine, steady and full of warmth.
“I should have done this a long time ago,” he said. “I love you. And I want to spend my life with you. Will you marry me, Chloe?”
The coffee shop fell silent.
And then—applause. Loud, thunderous applause from the staff.
Madison, on the other hand?
Her face twisted in pure rage.
“Are you freaking serious?!” she shrieked, standing so abruptly that her chair nearly toppled. “You’re stealing my wedding?! What the hell, Chloe? You brat!”
Jake looked at me, his mouth slightly agape.
“You’re… engaged?”
I smiled, lifting my left hand to admire the ring.
“I am indeed.”
“Since when?! Two seconds ago?! It doesn’t count!” Madison shouted.
“Well,” Mark said, struggling to hide his grin, “now there will be two weddings. Your mom would have loved to see both her kids get married on the same day.”
“NO! NO WAY! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE MY MOMENT!” Madison screamed. “Unbelievable!”
She grabbed her purse. “You and your fiancé can pay for the coffee and cake.”
She stormed out, leaving Jake sitting there, awkwardly rubbing his face.
And for the first time in a long time, I saw something different in my brother’s expression.
Realization.
After a long pause, he sighed.
“I need to rethink some things.”
And with that, he left too.
That night, back home, I unzipped the garment bag in my closet, letting my mother’s dress spill over my lap.
“Mom, you would have lost your mind today,” I whispered, laughing softly.
“But it’s safe now. Madison will never touch it. You made sure of that, didn’t you?”
A lump rose in my throat.
“I wish you were here.”
A soft knock at my door made me wipe my eyes.
Jake stepped inside, holding a plate.
“I let myself in with the emergency key,” he said, awkwardly. “I, uh… brought ginger cake.”
Our mom’s favorite.
He sat beside me on the bed. For a long moment, we said nothing.
Then, he sighed.
“She crossed a line, didn’t she?”
“Jake, she bulldozed right through it.”
He nodded, exhaling.
“I don’t know why I froze,” he admitted. “I heard her. I knew she was wrong. But I just sat there.”
I waited.
“I guess… I’ve spent so much time defending Madison that I don’t even know where I stand anymore.”
There it was. The truth.
Jake had been making excuses for so long that he had stopped questioning them.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the crumpled envelope—the one I had given them earlier.
“I can’t take this, Chloe. Not if I don’t know where Madison and I are headed. And you’re going to need it. You’re getting married too.”
This wasn’t just about money.
For the first time in a long time, we were just Jake and Chloe.
Just us.
And that was enough.