I tried to stand up, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate, and I half-fell into the aisle. Felicity’s new mother-in-law, Diane, rushed over and grabbed my arm hard enough to bruise, yanking me back into my seat with surprising strength for a woman in her sixties.

“You are making a scene,” she hissed in my ear. “Sit down and be quiet like a proper bridesmaid.” Her breath smelled like expensive wine and mint gum, and her fingers dug into my bicep.