The wedding convoy barely managed to stop in time as a dog darted into the road.
“Goodness, we cant be late!” Emily checked her watch for the third time in five minutes. “James, are we really on schedule?”
The chauffeur of the wedding limousine offered a reassuring smile through the rearview mirror.
“Dont worry, Emily. Were right on time.”
Time. That word had worn thin over the past two months. The ceremony schedule, the photo session timeline, the banquet ordereverything was meticulously planned down to the minute.
William, her groom, had insisted their wedding day be flawless. Not a single hiccup, not one delay. He loved things going exactly to planlikely a habit from his job as a finance director, where schedules were everything.
Emily glanced at William. He sat beside her, absorbed in his phone, likely double-checking their meticulously crafted itinerary.
It was strange. When theyd first met three years ago, hed seemed so differentmore alive, somehow.
Their first meeting had been the opposite of planned. Shed been rushing to work and collided with him outside a café, spilling coffee all over his crisp white shirt. Instead of getting angry, hed laughed and asked her to share another cupthis time, together.
Emily smiled at the memory. It felt like forever ago.
The screech of brakes shattered the quiet. She lurched forward, saved only by her seatbelt.
“What happened?!” she gasped.
“A dog,” the driver exhaled. “Ran right into the road. I couldnt stop.”
Her heart skipped.
Emily flung open the door, ignoring Williams protest”Where are you going? Youll ruin your dress!”
On the asphalt, just before the limos bonnet, lay a large golden retriever. It wasnt moving.
“Oh no,” Emily whispered, rushing closer. “Isis it alive?”
The driver knelt beside the dog.
“Breathing. But unconscious.”
“We have to get it to a vet!”
“Emily,” William placed a hand on her shoulder. “We dont have time. The ceremonys in forty minutes.”
“How can you say that?!” She whirled around. “Theres a living creature hurt!”
“Theres nothing we can do. The guests are waiting, the registrar”
“I dont care about the registrar!” Tears welled in her eyes. “We cant just leave!”
By now, the rest of the wedding party had stopped. Guests spilled out, murmuring in concern.
“Whats happened?”
“Why are we stopped?”
“Oh no, a dog! Poor thing.”
Voices overlappedsome suggesting they call a vet, others urging them to carry on.
“James,” Emily turned to the driver. “Do you know where the nearest vet is?”
“About a mile from here. But”
“No buts! We have to take her!”
“Emily!” William grabbed her arm. “Have you lost your mind? Its our wedding day!”
“Yes, our wedding day!” She pulled free. “The day two people promise to love and support each other. To stand together through everything. And youd leave a dying animal because of a schedule?!”
Just then, a voice called out
“Bella! Bella!”
An elderly man hurried toward them, breathless. His silver hair was dishevelled, glasses slipping down his nose.
“Oh, my sweet girl,” he dropped to his knees beside the dog. “What have you done? I told you not to run off.”
His hands trembled as he stroked her golden fur.
“Is she yours?” Emily asked softly.
“Yes,” the man looked up, eyes brimming. “Shes all I have left. After my wife passed Bella 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, can you help?”
The driver nodded, carefully lifting Bella. The dog was heavyat least five stoneher limp legs and lolling head making Emilys stomach twist.
“We need something to lay her on,” she said, glancing around.
A guest handed over a blanket. “Here. Be gentle.”
Spreading it across the back seat, they carefully settled BellaJames, Emily, William, and the man, who introduced himself as Robert. The dogs fur looked dull under the cars lights.
“Stay with us, sweetheart,” Robert whispered, stroking her with shaking hands. “Dont leave me.”
Emily sat beside Bella, resting the dogs head in her lap. Her pristine white wedding dress was now smudged with golden fur, but she barely noticed.
“James, go!” she urged. “Just take the turns carefully.”
The whole way, Emily kept her hands on Bella, fingers threading through her coat. She felt the dogs uneven heartbeat, watched her paws twitch in pain.
“Hold on, girl. Were almost there.”
Robert sniffled quietly beside her.
“Itll be alright,” Emily squeezed his hand. “Well make it.”
She caught William watching her from the front seathis expression a mix of surprise and admiration. But she didnt dwell on it.
Bella whimpered faintly.
“Shh, sweetheart,” Emily soothed. “Were here.”
“Emily,” William said, frustration creeping in. “Were late.”
“Then well be late.”
She turned to the guests.
“Im sorry, but well have to postpone the ceremony. I hope you understand.”
Strangely, no one argued. Many even nodded in approval.
“Ill go with James,” Emily said. “The rest of you, head to the registry officelet them know well be delayed.”
“No,” William cut in unexpectedly. “Im coming with you.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“Really.” He gave a small smile. “Youre right. To hell with the schedule.”
An hour later, the wedding party finally arrived at the registry officeforty minutes late, but no one minded.
Bella was safebruised and shaken, but alive. Robert stayed with her at the clinic.
“You know,” William said as they climbed the registry steps, “I havent seen you like that in years.”
“Like what?”
“When you argued for the dog. Stood your ground. You were so alive. Like when we first met in that café.”
Emily grinned.
“And you were just as stubborn as ever.”
“Hey!” He nudged her playfully. “I came to the vet, didnt I?”
“You did.” She stopped, meeting his eyes. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not staying stubborn till the end.”
He laughed and pulled her close.
“You know, maybe this was a sign.”
“A sign?”
“That we shouldnt try to control everything. Maybe we should let go a little?”
“Who are you, and what have you done with my fiancé?” Emily feigned shock.
“I mean it!” He paused. “Listenremember the wedding gifts? Maybe instead of that”
“Yes?”
“Maybe we donate the money to an animal shelter. In honour of today.”
Tears pricked her eyes againhappy ones this time.
“Thats why Im marrying you,” she whispered.
“Because Im generous?”
“No. Because you can change. And youre not afraid to.”
The ceremony began late. The brides dress was wrinkled. The grooms tie was crooked.
But when they exchanged vows, every word rang trueespecially “for better or for worse.”
A week later, back from their honeymoon, their first visit was to Bella and Robert.
And you know what? They didnt plan this meeting.
Because sometimes, the best moments happen unscriptedwithout plans or timetables.
Simply because they should.
As for Bella? She made a full recovery. And now she had new friendsa young couple who often visited with treats and took her for walks.
Robert said hed never seen her so happy. Notruthfully, hed never been so happy himself. Because now, he had family again.
All because someone stopped. Even when they were in a hurry. Even when they were late.
Stopped to help. Simply because they could.
And the world became a little kinder because of it.
As for the wedding? Well, it was perfect. Just not on schedule.
—
A year later, in Roberts cosy flat, an unlikely but warm gathering took place. Around the table sat Robert, Emily, William, andof courseBella.
“To the rescue!” Emily raised her glass of juice. “A year ago today, fate brought us together.”
“And turned everything upside down,” Robert smiled. “You know, I was so alone before. After my wife, Margaret, passed I only had Bella to talk to.”
He stroked the dogs head. She licked his hand gratefully.
“And now Ive got family again. You visit, we take walks. You even got me on the internetIm in those social media groups
