I Carried His Baby, He Played Husband to Her novel · Chapter 3 of 24

Chapter 3: Until Tomorrow Evening

Beth watches the fake wedding, photographs the kiss, and leaves Cory the divorce petition, the ring and the baby socks.

We pulled up behind Willow Creek at six thirty-eight, and my husband's wedding had already started.

Marcy parked near the staff entrance.

I could hear music from the glass conservatory before I opened my door.

"I'll come with you," she said.

"No. Stay with the car. I won't be long."

White ribbons marked a path across the lawn.

At the end of it, Whitney stood under an arch of roses.

She wore a real wedding gown, with a long train, a veil and pearls stitched along the neckline.

Cory faced her in the charcoal suit from our wedding.

His ring was on his hand and my silver cuff links were at his wrists.

Five years ago I had walked toward him on a path like this, and he had cried when he saw me.

Tonight he smiled at Whitney under a different arch.

Their college friends held champagne.

A photographer circled the arch.

A small white cake sat next to a sign with two names on it.

WHITNEY & CORY.

None of it looked like a joke.

I stopped at the conservatory's half-open door.

A man in a dark coat stood just inside with a hotel badge clipped to his lapel.

He looked at my face, then at the lawn, and moved back so the door could swing wide.

He did not ask who I was.

I did not thank him.

The officiant raised a hand.

"Friends, we're here for an April Fool's wedding that will last exactly twenty-four hours."

The guests cheered.

Whitney took both of Cory's hands. "Do you promise to be my husband until tomorrow evening?"

"I do," Cory said.

"Do you promise not to pick up when your real wife calls?"

Someone laughed out loud.

Cory hesitated.

For one second I thought he might hear what he was saying.

"I promise," he said.

The laughter came back, louder.

My hand went to my stomach.

"You may kiss the bride," the officiant said.

Cory's smile dropped.

Whitney leaned in. "It's part of the dare."

One of his friends shouted, "Kiss her!"

Then the whole front row was chanting it.

Whitney lifted her face and kissed him.

Cory did not push her away.

His hands stayed at his sides.

Then one of them moved to her waist.

The chapel roared.

The photographer stepped in close, and their friends cheered and stamped on the boards.

Whitney held up her left hand to the cameras.

She had put a plain gold band on it for the day, and she turned it so the light caught it.

From where I stood, they looked like newlyweds.

I raised my phone.

The picture caught the arch, the sign with their names, and Cory's hand on Whitney's waist.

Her veil lay across his shoulder.

His wedding ring was still on his finger.

I did not need a second shot.

I walked back across the lawn before the kiss was over.

Marcy took one look at my face and unlocked the car.

I handed her my phone with the photo open.

She stared at it. "That's your cuff link on his wrist."

"I know."

"He kissed her."

"He did more than that. He held her."

Marcy started the engine, and her hands were shaking on the wheel.

"Home?" she said.

"For the last time."

The boxes were packed already.

Marcy carried my clothes to the car while I took my passport, my medical records, my work laptop and our grandmother's earrings.

I left the furniture.

I left every wedding photo on the walls.

On the dining table I set the divorce petition Rhonda had drawn up.

I laid the Family Future Fund statement on top of it, with the Willow Creek charges highlighted.

My wedding ring went on top of that.

I stood a moment with the clinic envelope in both hands.

Five weeks pregnant.

For four years I had pictured him reading those words while I watched his face.

I slid the report under the ring.

The white baby socks went next to it.

I did not leave a note.

Cory had already told me everything I needed to know about our marriage.

My phone lit up as Marcy lifted the last box.

[Cory: Dinner went well. Client is happy. I'll turn in early. Love you.]

Under his text, Whitney had posted another photo.

She and Cory stood under the arch while their friends threw white petals over them.

Her caption said: [Finally Mrs. Kester.]

I held the power button until the screen went black.

Tomorrow his twenty-four-hour marriage would end.

He would come home to an empty house and my ring on the dining table.

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