The wedding was at a restored barn venue about forty minutes outside the city. White string lights in the rafters. An old stone fireplace. A field out back where they’d set up rows of white chairs facing a wooden arch covered in greenery.
Emma had dreamed about it for a year.
I got there at nine a.m. with the hair and makeup people. I carried the cake in myself with two of the venue staff and watched them set it on its table in the reception hall. It was perfect. Not a petal out of place.
Then I went upstairs to find my daughter.
The bridal suite was a big room on the second floor with windows overlooking the field. Emma was sitting in front of a mirror in her white silk robe. Her hair was half done. One side pinned up in soft curls, the other side still straight and loose.
The hairdresser saw my face and said, “I’ll grab some more pins,” and left us alone.
“We need to talk,” I said, closing the door.
Emma turned around in the chair. “Mom. What happened?”
“Your father knows the woman who called the bakery.”
Her expression changed. Just a flicker. But I saw it.
“He was there with her,” I said. “A few weeks ago. The baker described him. The scar and everything.”
“Mom—”
“I think your father is having an affair.”
“Dad isn’t having an affair.”
She said it instantly. Flat. Absolutely certain.
That startled me more than anything else so far.
“How can you possibly know that?”
She looked away. Toward the window.
“Because I just know.”
“That isn’t an answer, Emma.”
“Mom, please. Today of all days.”
“That’s exactly what your father said last night.”
She looked back at me, and her eyes were wet.
That’s when the door opened, and David came in.
He was already dressed in his gray suit. His tie was done. He looked like he hadn’t slept either.
He looked at Emma. Then at me.
“I’m telling Emma about Laura,” I said. “The other Laura. The woman at the bakery.”
David went still.
“Laura,” he said. “Please.”
Emma stood up from the chair. She faced her father.
“Dad. You need to tell her.”
I stared at both of them.
“You both know who she is.”
Neither one of them answered.
And then there was a knock on the open door.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
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