My Family Seated Me Outside by the Trash at My Sister’s Wedding Because They Thought My Husband Was Just a Quiet Country Man — Then He Walked In, and the Ballroom Fell Completely Silent.”

“You’re wearing that?” she asked flatly.

“It’s clean,” I replied, already tired.

She exhaled dramatically. “We had to rearrange the seating. There’s no room inside for you right now.”

She gestured toward a small round table tucked near the service corridor, partially shielded by a thin canopy that did nothing to stop the rain drifting in from the open side entrance.

“You can sit there,” she said. “We’ll bring you something to eat later.”

The table was next to the trash bins.

I stood there for a moment, the sound of laughter and music spilling out from the ballroom behind her, rain already spotting the fabric of my dress. I considered leaving. I considered calling Andrew and telling him not to come.

Instead, I nodded.