Not Mr. Right

Jude's wedding to Charles Garth exists in name only: her name is on the invitation, but every choice belongs to someone else. When she goes to return her engagement ring, it will not slide past her second knuckle, and the dress, shoes, gloves and garter were all sized for her best friend, Maia Cooper. Charles only frowns and suggests Maia could stand in for her at the altar.

At home, Charles coos into the phone to Maia, orders Jude to cook Maia's favourite dishes, and buys Maia the pink bunny slippers Jude had kept in her cart for half a year. Maia arrives with coffee, and Jude notices the drink Charles once called warm and sweet like her is now an Americano. When Jude cuts her finger while cooking, Charles barely glances over before returning to Maia's laughter.

Something Jude held onto for a long time finally gives out, and she begins to wonder whether it might not be so bad to swap out the groom instead.