Upgrading Grooms At The Altar

At the reception hall, the interactive mystery-box auction was in full swing. Guests took shots of neat bourbon or bit into raw lemon wedges to earn their raffle draws, the room loud with laughter and clinking crystal.

Whitney stood near the edge of the stage, gazing up at me in my custom Oscar de la Renta gown. Her eyes were rimmed in red. "Since it’s your wedding day, Val, I might as well borrow some of your good fortune."

On her first draw, she pulled a delicate sapphire pendant. She let out a sharp, breathless gasp.