On the morning I was supposed to marry Maverick, the lace curtains in my childhood bedroom made the Midwestern sun look kinder than it was. Riverside Manor had been polished to a movie shine, white roses waiting beside a little U.S. flag tucked near the gazebo, the DJ run-through finished, the cake chilling like a promise I could taste. Aunt Rose steamed my veil while the bridesmaids rehearsed their laughter, and Penelope—my maid of honor since fourth grade—squeezed my fingers and said, “You des