15 Ch 15: Can everyone kindly find a seat

Three weeks past and she hadn't heard from him. She felt as if there was a part of her heart missing, but she was too afraid to get in contact with him for fear that he had gotten back together with his ex.

Dylan had gotten a new job at another newspaper, and they hardly saw each other anymore; it wasn't for a lack of trying on Dylan's part though. He had invited her over to have dinner with him and Victoria on many occasions, but she didn't want to be a spare wheel and had made excuses every time.

They no longer spoke about Isaac when he called, and the calls and invitations became less frequent. Maya felt bad for Isabella and Samantha though, they loved Isaac and they missed their dogs that they had named Madison and Samantha respectively.

In an attempt at cheering them up about the matter, she took them to the pet store one day and they got to choose whatever pet they wanted that the pet store had. Isabella got a bearded dragon, and Samantha decided on a parrot, but Maya knew their new pets wouldn't be the same.

In June Maya received an invitation to Dylan and Victoria's wedding, but she was in two minds about going. The invitation was made out to her and the girls, so she figured having the girls with her would make up for her not having a date.

The wedding date was set for September, and she stuck it to her fridge with a magnet. The months went by without event; Maya went to school sports days to support the girls, they had started modeling in their spare time as well, and Maya had been offered a job at one of the top magazine in the city.

They were doing well, and Maya did everything she could to keep busy to forget about Isaac, but try as she might she could not fill that space he had left in her heart. It was worse than losing her husband, she realized, her husband was dead and there was finality in that, but Isaac was out there still, and she missed him more with every passing day.

Finally, the day of the wedding arrived, and though Maya had thought about withdrawing her RSVP, it was too late and so she and the girls would attend. It was a beautiful setup.

The ceremony took place in the picturesque gardens of a charming little boutique hotel; the main color was pink, and Dylan and Victoria had only invited their closest friends and relatives.

She hoped to high heavens that they hadn't invited Isaac, but at the same time, she kept looking around for him. What did she expect, she wondered to herself.

She couldn't hope that Dylan wouldn't invite his best friend to his wedding now, could she?

Before the ceremony event began she had congratulated Dylan and told him how nice he cleaned up, and that she would see him at the reception; then she and the girls took their seats on the far end of the garden where she could see everyone who came in before they saw her.

Then Imam called for the groom and his party to take their places on the carpet. Maya saw Dylan say something to the Imam, but she was too far away to hear him.

"Okay," the Imam announced. "Can everyone kindly find a seat, we will be starting shortly. The groom informs me that the best man is running a bit late, and so I ask you kindly for your patience." Oh no, Maya thought; her hopes and fears confirmed when finally the best man arrived.