Jenna rushed up, smiling, kissing me like nothing was wrong. She smelled like coconut and lies.
That night, after the girls had gone to bed, I ran a hand down my face and sighed.
“Jenna… maybe you were right, babe.”
“About what?” she asked, tilting her head.
“About the girls. Maybe… maybe I can’t do this. Maybe I should give them up. Maybe we should find a family who will take care of them. They need a mother… not us… we’re substitutes, nothing more.”
Jenna blinked slowly, her eyes lighting up as she realized what I was saying.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she said. “That’s the mature thing to do. It’s the right thing for all of us.”
“Yes, Jen. And maybe… we shouldn’t wait on our wedding. Losing my mom made me realize that we don’t have time to waste. So let’s just do it. Let’s get married!”
“Are you serious, James?” she shrieked.
“I am. I really am.”
“Oh my goodness! Yes, James! Let’s do it. This weekend — small, simple, whatever we want.”
I shook my head.
“No, let’s do it bigger. Let’s invite everyone! And make it a fresh start for us, honey. Your family, my mom’s friends, the neighbors, colleagues… everyone!”
If she smiled any wider, her face might’ve cracked.
The next morning, Jenna was on the phone with florists before she even brushed her teeth. She picked a hotel downtown, booked a ballroom, and posted a photo of her ring with the caption:
“Our forever starts now. James & Jenna, forever.”
Meanwhile, I promised the girls that I’d never abandon them. And then I made calls of my own.
The hotel ballroom gleamed in that over-the-top way Jenna adored. There were white linens draped on every table, and floating candles flickered in glass bowls.
Jenna’s cousin played a practiced piano piece near the stage.
Jenna stood near the entrance, glowing in a white lace gown. Her hair was swept up, her makeup precise. She looked like she already believed the night belonged to her.
She floated from guest to guest, smiling, hugging, and kissing cheeks. She stopped briefly to fix the bow on Lily’s dress before turning to Maya and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
“You girls look perfect,” she said with a smile that didn’t quite meet her eyes.
Maya looked at me, then nodded.
I wore the navy suit my mom had helped me pick out last fall. It still held the faint scent of her perfume. Lily stood on my right, holding a small bouquet she’d made from wildflowers she picked outside the hotel.
Maya stood on my left, holding a pink glitter pen tightly.
Jenna clinked her glass, lifted the mic, and beamed at the crowd.
“Thank you all for coming! Tonight, we’re celebrating love, family, and —”
I stepped forward and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Actually, babe, I’ll take it from here.”
My fiancée’s smile faltered just a beat, but she handed me the mic without a word.
I reached into my jacket and pulled out a small black remote.
“Everyone,” I said, turning to face them all. “We’re not just here to celebrate a wedding. We’re here to reveal who we really are.”
Behind us, the projector flickered to life.
I clicked the first file, and the screen behind us came to life.
“Tuesday Afternoon — Kitchen Camera” read the corner timestamp. The footage was grainy, black and white, but the audio came through perfectly.
Jenna’s voice filled the hall, casual and cruel.
“The house? The insurance money? It should be for us! I just need James to wake up and smell the coffee… and put my name on the deed. And after that, I don’t really care what happens to those girls. I’ll make their lives miserable until he gives in. And then this naïve man will think it was his idea all along.”
A gasp rippled through the room. Somewhere, a glass shattered.
I let it play for a few more seconds before pausing it. My voice stayed calm, even as my hands tightened around the mic.
