After six months of dating, Chris proposes to Beth. His enthusiastic family runs with the wedding planning — only to include unorthodox items on the program, causing Beth to leave her wedding. For my 25th birthday this year, my boyfriend, Chris, whisked me off to Hawaii.

It was a fairytale because we had only been dating for six months, and I wasn’t expecting anything. But then, Chris proposed to me on the beach — I said yes, swept away by the enchantment of the moment, although I knew that six months of knowing someone was not enough before marrying them. Little did I know that fairytale was about to unravel into more drama than I had signed up for.

I wasn’t one of those girls who spent hours dreaming up their wedding. So when Chris’s family, fueled by their eagerness and involvement, took complete control over every detail of the wedding, even offering to foot the bill — I allowed it. I’ll admit that there were moments when I felt sidelined, especially when I said that shades of blue for the color scheme weren’t my cup of tea.

But contributing to their enthusiasm was the better option than fighting with them. Then, the big day arrived, and I was completely calm about everything — knowing that Chris’s Mom and sister had sorted everything out. I wasn’t close to my family, so other than my father, they didn’t play any big roles.

“Beth,” his Mom, Leeanne, said, fixing my hair. “I want you to walk down the aisle with your eyes closed.”

“What? Why?” I exclaimed, already thinking about tripping over something while walking.

“I can barely walk properly in these heels with my eyes open,” I chuckled. “It’s just tradition,” Leeanne said. “I did it, too.

The whole thing is about seeing your husband first — the first thing out of the darkness.”

“He’s supposed to be the light,” Chris’s sister, Maggie, giggled. The whole thing sounded strange. It wasn’t anything I had heard of before, but I also knew that people always came up with superstitions and stories.

“I wouldn’t have to wear a blindfold and mess up my make-up, right?” I asked. “No, just close your eyes and hold onto your father’s hand tightly,” Leeanne said. When I told my Dad what I needed to do, he laughed, thinking I was joking.

It was absurd, of course. But my wedding only got worse from there. At the altar, I opened my eyes, expecting the loving gaze of my fiancé, but I got way more than I bargained for.

Chris smiled at me, and after a second, another sight sent shockwaves through me — a woman in a white dress stood behind him. I couldn’t tell whether he knew she was there from his expression. I wondered who she was, but the murmurs around me revealed her identity — Julia, Chris’s first wife.

“Chris, what’s happening?” I whispered, pointing to Julia. My voice was barely audible amidst the collective gasps. But before either Chris or I could process this bizarre twist in the ceremony, Leeanne walked down the aisle, holding onto a little boy’s hand.

Every face turned to look toward them. Then, Julia stepped forward and held her arms open for the boy, ready for him to walk in. “This is Eli,” she said, looking at me.