The Wedding Plus-One

Tess wrote Alex on the invitation because the RSVP form would not accept a question mark. Alex was a name, not a plan. She intended to explain later.

Later became the wedding. At the seating board, an actual Alex was staring at a place card beside hers. He was the photographer's assistant, mistakenly added to the guest list after offering to help with dinner.

"I think I am your administrative error," he said.

Tess considered three responses and chose the truth. They laughed. Then her aunt arrived, delighted that Tess had finally brought somebody nice.

Alex looked at Tess. Tess looked at the ceiling. The aunt looked at both of them and apparently found everything she needed to confirm a theory she had maintained for years.