I Chose a New Life novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: My Turn

I recorded it that night, sitting on the stern bench of the Grayling with the harbor lights behind me.

Cliff held the phone, because I couldn't keep my own hands steady.

"Don't make it pretty," he said. "Just say it."

"I wasn't going to make it pretty."

"Good. Go."

He pressed record and stepped back out of the frame.

I looked into the lens.

"My name is Della Harker," I said. "I'm twenty-eight, and on Saturday I was supposed to get married."

My voice shook, and I let it.

"At my reception, my fiancé's best friend pushed my face into the cake.

"Two of his friends held my shoulders so I couldn't get up.

"The cake had a rod in it, and it cut my cheek open.

"You've seen the video that says I ruined my own wedding.

"It was posted by the woman who did it, while it was happening, and she left the stream running for ten minutes.

"When I stood up, my fiancé said I was overreacting.

"Then he sent those two men to my aunt's town to bring me home.

"You've seen that video too.

"I'm not asking for sympathy, because I'm fine.

"I'm asking the eighty people who were on that lawn and laughed to think about which one of them I could have turned to.

"Nobody did.

"The same man's family now says I stole a ring and money, and they've fired me.

"The ring is in the top tier of that cake.

"The money is in the company's own books, which I kept, and I will be glad to show anyone I'm asked to.

"They owe me four thousand two hundred and eleven dollars in wages.

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