The wedding cars barely screeched to a halt near the dog. But who couldve guessed
“God, please dont let us be late!” Emily checked her watch for the third time in five minutes. “James, are we really going to make it?”
The chauffeur of the wedding limo gave a reassuring smile through the rearview mirror. “Dont worry, Emily. Were right on schedule.”
Schedule. That word had lost all meaning. For the last two months, it was all anyone talked about. The ceremony timing, the photoshoot slots, the banquet itineraryeverything mapped down to the minute.
Oliver, her groom, had insisted the wedding day be flawless. Not a single hiccup, no room for error. He loved things going to planprobably a side effect of being a finance director. In his world, chaos wasnt an option.
Emily glanced at Oliver. He sat beside her, glued to his phoneno doubt double-checking some spreadsheet of the days events.
Strange. When theyd first met three years ago, hed seemed different. More alive, somehow.
Their first encounter had been the opposite of planned. Shed been late for work, crashing into him outside a café, spilling coffee all over his crisp white shirt. Instead of getting mad, hed laughed and asked her to share another cup with him.
Emily smiled at the memory. Felt like a lifetime ago.
The screech of brakes shattered the quiet. Emily lurched forwardthank God for seatbelts.
“What happened?!” she gasped.
“Dog,” the driver exhaled. “Ran into the road. Didnt see it in time.”
Her heart skipped.
Emily bolted out, ignoring Olivers shout: “Where are you going? Youll ruin your dress!”
On the tarmac, right by the limos bumper, lay a big golden retriever. Motionless.
“Oh my God,” Emily whispered, rushing closer. “Is it alive?”
The chauffeur knelt beside the dog. “Breathing. But out cold.”
“We need to get her to a vet!”
“Emily,” Olivers hand landed on her shoulder. “We dont have time. The ceremonys in forty minutes.”
“How can you say that?!” She whipped around. “This is a living thing!”
“We cant help. The guests are waiting, the registrar”
“I dont care about the registrar!” Her eyes welled up. “We cant just leave her!”
By now, the rest of the wedding party had stopped. Guests spilled out, clustering around.
“Whats happened?”
“Why are we stopped?”
“Oh no, the poor dog!”
Voices blurred into a hum. Some suggested calling a vet, others urged them to carry on.
“James,” Emily turned to the driver. “Do you know where the nearest clinic is?”
“Couple miles from here. But”
“No buts! Were taking her.”
“Emily!” Oliver grabbed her arm. “Have you lost it? This is our wedding!”
“Yes, our wedding!” She yanked free. “The day two people promise to love and stand by each other. Through thick and thin. And youd abandon a dying animal for a schedule?!”
Then, from the side
“Luna! Luna!”
An elderly man sprinted toward them, breathless. His silver hair was disheveled, glasses slipping down his nose.
“Luna, my girl,” he dropped to his knees beside the dog. “Whatve you done? I told you not to run off.”
His hands trembled as he stroked her golden fur.
“Is she yours?” Emily asked softly.
He looked up, eyes wet. “Yes. Shes all Ive got left. After my wife passed Luna kept me sane.”
He turned back to the dog. “Silly girl. Whyd you run into the road?”
“Well take her to the vet,” Emily said firmly. “James, help us?”
The driver nodded, carefully lifting Luna. The dog was heavymaybe sixty poundsher limp paws and lolling head making Emilys stomach twist.
“We need something to lay her on,” she said, scanning around.
A guest handed over a blanket. “Here. Be gentle.”
They spread it across the limos backseatJames, Emily, Oliver, and Mr. Thompsoneasing Luna down. Her fur looked dull under the interior lights.
“Good girl, stay with us,” the old man whispered, stroking her shaky-handed.
Emily sat beside her, cradling Lunas head in her lap. Her pristine white dress was instantly smudged with golden fur, but she didnt care.
“James, go!” she urged. “Just take it easy on the turns.”
The whole ride, Emily kept petting Luna, fingers threading through her soft coat. She felt the uneven thump of the dogs heartbeat, saw her paws twitch in sleep.
“Hold on, sweetheart. Almost there.”
Mr. Thompson sniffled quietly beside her, wiping tears with a trembling hand.
“Itll be okay,” Emily squeezed his palm. “Well make it.”
She caught Oliver watching her from the front seat. His expression flickered between surprise and admiration. But she couldnt focus on that now.
Luna whimpered faintly, stirring.
“Shh, youre safe,” Emily murmured, smoothing her ears. “Weve got you.”
“Emily,” Olivers voice was tight. “Were late.”
“Then were late.”
She turned to the guests. “Sorry, but the ceremonys delayed. Hope you understand.”
Oddly, no one argued. Some even nodded approval.
“Im going with James,” she said. “You all head to the registry office, let them know well be behind.”
“No,” Oliver said suddenly. “Im coming with you.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“Really.” He gave a small smile. “Youre right. Screw the schedule.”
An hour later, the wedding cars finally pulled up to the registry office. Forty minutes late, but no one cared.
Luna stayed at the clinicbruised, concussed, but alive. Mr. Thompson (that was his name) stayed with her.
“You know,” Oliver said as they climbed the registry steps, “I havent seen you that real in ages.”
“What?”
“Back there, arguing for the dog. You were so alive. Like when we first met in that café.”
Emily grinned. “And you were your usual uptight self.”
“Hey!” He nudged her playfully. “I still came to the clinic!”
“Yeah. You did.” She stopped, meeting his eyes. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not staying uptight till the end.”
He laughed, pulling her close. “You know, maybe this is a sign.”
“What sign?”
“Today. Maybe we should loosen up? Not control everything?”
“Who are you and whatve you done with my fiancé?” she teased.
“I mean it!” He paused. “Remember the wedding gift fund? Maybe instead of”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe we donate it to an animal shelter. To remember today.”
Tears pricked her eyeshappy ones this time.
“Thats why Im marrying you,” she whispered.
“Because Im generous?”
“No. Because you change. And youre not afraid to.”
The ceremony started late. The brides dress was wrinkled. The grooms tie was crooked.
But when they said their vows, every word rang true. Especially the “for better or worse” part.
A week later, back from their honeymoon, their first stop was visiting Luna and Mr. Thompson.
And guess what? They didnt schedule that visit.
Because sometimes the best moments happen unplanned. No charts, no spreadsheets.
Just because they should.
Luna? She recovered fully. And now shes got new friendsa young couple who visit often with treats and take her on walks.
Mr. Thompson says hes never seen her happier. Actually, scratch thathes never been happier himself. Because now hes got family, too.
All because sometimes you just stop. Even when youre rushing. Even when youre late.
Stop and help. Just because you can.
And the world gets a little brighter.
The wedding? Oh, it was perfect. Just not on schedule.
A year later, in Mr. Thompsons cosy flat, a mismatched but warm group gathered around a celebratory dinner.
“To Lunas rescue anniversary!” Emily raised her glass of juice. “A year ago today, fate brought us together.”
“And turned my life upside down,” Mr. Thompson smiled. “I was so alone after my Margaret passed. Only Luna kept me talking.”
He scratched the dogs head. She licked his hand gratefully.
“Now Ive got family. You visit, we walk together. You even got me on FacebookIm in all those animal rescue groups!”
“Helped three dogs get adopted last month,” Oliver added.
“Exactly! Just by telling their stories.”
“Remember when we helped the
