I LOOKED GREAT.

There. I said it. I know it’s inappropriate and a little egocentric, but I did have a mirror in my bedroom, and I…looked…pretty terrific. The dress, of course, was one of a kind, just right, and my butt still appeared to be on vacation. For once my hair and the brush and the blow-dryer formed a nice relationship, so my curls had the right amount of wave and shine to them. The only piece of jewelry I wore was a small diamond solitaire on a gold chain. I’d had it made from the engagement ring Peter had given me many years before.

If the oohs and aahs from my family were any indication, I wasn’t completely delusional. I think I’ll say it one more time: I looked great.

“You look exactly the way they describe brides,” Lizzie said. “Radiant and beautiful and…”

Emily jumped in. “…And young and in love.”

Honestly, that was exactly how I felt, and I can’t recommend the experience highly enough.

Bart opened the champagne. If ever there was a sound effect for good times, it was the sound of a champagne cork flying off, then bonking against the ceiling.

“Hurry up,” said Claire. “Only a half hour to takeoff.”

“Why do you keep using that expression, ‘takeoff’? It sounds like I’m about to fly to another planet.”

“You are,” Mike said. “By the way, who’s your copilot?”

“Did you really think that trick was going to work?” I asked.

By now all the champagne flutes were filled. Emily lifted hers and looked at me.

“I’m in charge of the family toast,” she said. “So, here goes. To Mom. Who spent so much time and effort loving and caring for us. May you now take some of that love and effort and use it for yourself. Good luck. God bless. We love you more than you’ll ever know.”

A lot of cheering from the home crowd. Smiles all around the room.

“Damn it,” I said. “I knew this would happen. I’m going to have to do my mascara all over again.”

Then Claire spoke.

“Can I say something?” she asked quietly. Her arm extended into the toasting position, but Claire shook her head as everyone looked her way.

“No, this isn’t a toast,” she said. “I have an announcement to make. I cleared it with Mom, and she said it was all right to share it with everybody today.”

My other children traded confused looks. Claire continued.

“I wanted everyone to know that Hank and I are divorcing,” she said.

There were about five seconds of silence. Then an amazing thing happened. Everyone started to cheer and applaud.

“Now, that’s wonderful news,” said Emily.

“I couldn’t stand that surly sonofabitch from the first day he showed up,” said Lizzie.

Even Mike had something to say: “You all know me. I like everybody. But I didn’t like Hank.”

“Enough,” I said. “Only good thoughts.”

Mike shrugged. “I think dumping Hank was a really good thought.”

“You people,” I said. “Well, listen. I can’t stand around drinking champagne all day. I’ve got to go fix my eye makeup and then go get married.” I paused for just a moment and then spoke directly to Claire. “You made the right decision.” My girl smiled at me.

I was walking toward the staircase when I heard Andie’s voice. I turned around. She was wearing a gorgeous simple silk dress. A blue hue so pale that you almost had to study it to notice that it even was a color. I could hear my late mother’s voice in my head: “There are only three things that you have to be to wear a dress like that—young, beautiful, and a size two.”

“Gaby,” Andie said. “Seth and I want to talk to you.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked, feeling a sudden rumble in my stomach that had nothing to do with wedding jitters.

Seth looked at me all too seriously. “Let’s go up to your room and talk.”