Chapter 1 - The Wedding Stopped Before the Vows
Rebecca’s smile did not move.
But her eyes stayed fixed on the crumpled note in my hand.
“Daniel.”
She said my name softly.
“Everyone is waiting.”
My seven-year-old daughter tightened both arms around my neck.
Emily was shaking badly enough that I could feel it through her dress.
I stood.
“No one is waiting anymore.”
Rebecca’s smile disappeared.
“What does that mean?”
I took the note from my jacket.
Her face changed immediately.
It lasted less than a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
Not confusion.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
“Where did you get that?”
She asked.
Emily buried her face against my shoulder.
I stared at the woman I had been prepared to marry.
“That’s the first thing you want to ask?”
Rebecca looked toward the chapel.
Nearly two hundred people were inside.
Music was playing.
Our families were waiting.
The priest was expecting us at the altar.
Rebecca lowered her voice.
“Daniel, please.”
“Not here.”
“We can talk after the ceremony.”
“No.”
Her jaw tightened.
“You’re going to embarrass both of us over something a child misunderstood?”
Emily lifted her head.
“I didn’t misunderstand.”
Rebecca looked at her.
For the first time in two years, there was no warmth in her expression.
Only irritation.
I stepped between them.
“Don’t look at her like that.”
Rebecca sighed.
“This is exactly what I was worried about.”
“What were you worried about?”
“She gets emotional.”
“She twists things.”
“She’s seven.”
“That doesn’t mean she can’t manipulate you.”
My entire body went cold.
Two years.
For two years, Rebecca had sat at Emily’s bedside when she was sick.
She had braided her hair before school.
She had bought birthday presents.
She had told me repeatedly that she understood Emily came first.
Now, ten minutes before our wedding, my daughter had suddenly become manipulative.
I unfolded the note.
“Did you write this?”
Rebecca looked at the paper.
Then at me.
“Not exactly.”
My stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
“It was part of a conversation.”
“With a seven-year-old?”
“She needed preparation.”
“For what?”
Rebecca looked around.
Her mother was approaching from the chapel entrance.
“Rebecca?”
Linda called.
“What’s happening?”
Rebecca’s expression changed instantly.
The perfect bride returned.
“Nothing, Mom.”
She smiled.
“Emily is having a little anxiety.”
Emily whispered into my shoulder.
“She told me not to tell you.”
I looked at Rebecca.
“What did you arrange?”
She froze.
“Daniel.”
“What did you arrange for my daughter?”
Linda stepped closer.
“Perhaps we should discuss this privately.”
I turned toward her.
“You know too?”
That silence told me enough.
May you like
Then Rebecca said the sentence that ended our wedding.
“It’s already paid for.”
