5. Wedding Dresses
Chapter five
Wedding Dresses
When I’d been younger, my mother used to joke she loved the front porch of our home. The first step always creaked when we walked on it, and it was like an alarm system whenever we tried to sneak out.
I’d never had the heart to tell her that Harper and I could always sneak out through the back.
Tonight, as I stepped onto the front porch, I couldn’t help but wonder how I’d look her in the eye and still go through with my plan.
My mother had insisted on hosting one last, quiet family dinner before the official wedding week chaos began. I couldn’t refuse her. And now, here we were, in front of the house. The evening chill did nothing to settle the nervous energy humming in my veins.
Daniel reached over, his fingers curling possessively around my palm. In his free hand, he held a bottle of imported red wine. He had bought it yesterday on a maxed-out credit card, banking entirely on the fact that my paycheck would eventually cover the cost.
“You’ve been quiet since I picked you up,” he noted, his face a mask of perfect concern.
“Just a long day,” I replied smoothly, leaning into the touch. “I had a lot of paperwork to finalize at the office.”
He smiled, murmuring something about how I needed to relax. I wasn’t forced to reply. The ‘alarm system’ worked, and the wooden door swung inward.
“There they are!” My mother beamed. She stood in the foyer wearing her favorite floral blouse and an apron, her cheeks flushed from the kitchen heat.
She pulled me into a warm hug and kissed my cheek. “Hi, honey. Let me look at you. You’re working too hard, you look exhausted.”
“That’s what I keep telling her, Margaret,” Daniel interjected, his tone laced with perfect concern. “Maybe she’ll listen to her mother if her groom’s advice falls on deaf ears.”
My mother broke our embrace and turned toward Daniel. “We’ll certainly do our best. But come in, come in. Get out of the cold. The pot roast’s almost done.”
I tried my best to suppress my irritation. Pot roast was Harper’s favorite. The night was off to a great start.
“Thanks, Mom,” I offered as we took her up on the invitation. “I’m sure it will be delicious.”
Inside, the house smelled intensely of roasted meat, rosemary, and the vanilla candles my mother burned year-round.
I hung my coat in the hall closet, a brief twist tightening my chest. This had always been a safe place.
I’d walked through these doors a thousand times feeling completely secure in my family.
Now, I was bringing a parasite right into our living room.
And another one was already waiting inside.
I walked through the archway. Harper was curled up in a plush armchair, wearing an oversized knit sweater and leggings, scrolling through her phone.
When she heard us come in, she looked up and offered us a bright smile.
“Hey,” she told me. “Thanks again for the shoe money. The boutique shipped them this afternoon. They are going to look amazing with the bridesmaid dress.”
“Are you warm enough, sweetie?” my mother asked, bustling into the room behind us. She immediately picked up a throw blanket from the sofa and draped it over Harper’s legs. “You know how drafty this old house gets, and you’ve been looking a little pale lately.”
“I’m fine, Mom,” Harper sighed playfully, adjusting the blanket.
I stood near the sofa, looking down at my younger sister.
Harper had always been the golden child.
The baby of the family who required endless grace and protection from both my mother and me.
I stared into her wide blue eyes, searching her face for any trace of guilt.
Any sign of the crushing anxiety she should be feeling about sitting in our mother’s house, carrying my fiancé’s child.
There was nothing. She was entirely comfortable in her deception, perfectly content to let my mother dote on her while she wore the clothes I bought her. She didn’t even seem distressed about me walking around on her lover’s arm. Was any part of Harper genuine?
Daniel walked over and casually ruffled Harper’s blonde hair. “How’s my favorite future sister-in-law doing?”
“Exhausted,” Harper complained, swatting his hand away. “Wedding planning is draining. Even when I just have to show up and stand there.”
“Well, tonight is all about resting,” my mother called out, heading toward the dining room. “Go ahead, take your seats. I’ll get everything ready for the meal.”
We moved into the dining room. I took my usual seat next to Daniel, with Harper directly across from me. It was time for the next act in our little play to begin.
I spent the rest of the meal entirely focused on going through the motions. While my mother happily chatted about the floral centerpieces and the caterer’s final timeline, I passed the serving dishes. I smiled when expected. I forced down pot roast that tasted like sawdust.
Enduring Daniel’s casual affection took everything I had. Whenever his shoulder brushed mine or his hand rested warmly on my thigh, a cold wave of revulsion spiked in my chest. I concentrated solely on my breathing to keep myself from flinching away.
“I still can’t believe it’s only a week away,” my mother said, raising her wine glass with a nostalgic smile. “I was looking at old photo albums this morning. Marianne, you used to swear you were going to marry a skyscraper.”
Daniel let out a warm laugh. He reached over and laced his fingers through mine. “I’m very glad I beat out the buildings. I really am the luckiest guy in the world.”
He looked hopelessly in love. Even now that I knew the truth, I had trouble seeing past his perfect facade.
“So, are you two going to start trying for kids right away?” my mother asked casually, cutting a piece of carrot. “I know Marianne wants to focus on the firm, but you aren’t getting any younger.”
The atmosphere at the table shifted instantly.
Harper froze, her fork halfway to her mouth. Beside me, Daniel went entirely still for a fraction of a second before his polished smile slid back into place.
“Marianne’s career is important,” Daniel answered smoothly, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “We have plenty of time to build a family. I just want to enjoy being married to her first.”
Harper let out a sharp exhale that bordered on a scoff. She dropped her fork and reached for her water, taking a long, aggressive sip.
“We haven’t decided yet, Mom,” I offered. “But I assure you, once we’re sure your first grandchild is on the way, you’ll be the first to know.”
Harper twitched in irritation. My mother just smiled, placated.
When the plates were finally cleared and Daniel was helping load the dishwasher, my mother caught my eye and gestured toward the hallway.
I followed her away from the noise of the kitchen and into her bedroom. She closed the door, leaving it ajar just enough to let the hallway light spill across the carpet.
“I wanted to give this to you before the craziness of next week starts,” she said, walking over to her dresser. She picked up a small, faded velvet box and handed it to me.
I opened it. Resting against the white satin lining was my grandmother’s pearl drop necklace. The silver chain was delicate, the pearl perfectly smooth.
“It’s beautiful, Mom,” I said quietly, running my thumb over the clasp. “Thank you.”
“I was so torn on how to divide things up,” she admitted, letting out a soft sigh as she sat on the edge of her bed.
“I always wished I had two wedding dresses to pass down to you girls. But since you already bought that gorgeous gown for yourself, I figured this made the most sense. I’ll give you the pearls for your ‘something old’, and I’m going to have my original wedding dress preserved and altered so Harper can wear it when it’s her turn. ”
I looked down at the necklace in my hands.
A week ago, this wouldn’t have stung. I had always indulged Harper.
I liked giving her the things she wanted, and I had been perfectly happy to step aside and let her have the sentimental family heirloom because I loved seeing her happy.
But wasn’t this what I’d always done? My mother was relying on the fact that I always yielded to my little sister.
And Harper had, too—to the point of stealing my fiancé.
Perhaps my mother didn’t mean any harm. But she was still carefully saving the ultimate symbol of our family’s love and loyalty for Harper.
My little sister, who was sitting in the next room, pregnant with my fiancé’s child.
She had absolutely no idea who Harper really was.
I wondered what she’d think once the truth was finally revealed.
“Your way makes perfect sense, Mom,” I said. “Harper will love the dress.”
“I think so too.” She beamed, standing up to kiss my cheek. “You’re going to be such a stunning bride, Marianne.”
“Thank you.” I closed the velvet box, the sharp snap of the hinge echoing in the room. “Actually, do you mind if we head out? I have a vicious headache building behind my eyes.”
It wasn’t a lie. The suffocating tension of the last two hours had finally caught up with me, leaving a throbbing ache at my temples.
“Of course, sweetie,” my mother said instantly, her face pulling into a sympathetic frown. “Thank you for indulging this old woman and her whims. Now go home and get some sleep.”
We walked back out to the living room. I caught Daniel’s eye and tapped my temple.
He immediately set down the dish towel, perfectly playing the role of the attentive partner.
He made our excuses, thanked my mother for the dinner, and called out a cheerful goodbye to Harper, who barely offered a tight nod from the sofa.
The cold night air hit my face as we stepped out onto the porch. We walked down the driveway to his car. Daniel unlocked the doors, and I slid into the passenger seat, resting my head against the leather headrest.