Page 84 of Married to Lies

Rei: Is anyone coming today?

Asking made me feel small, but I couldn’t stand not knowing. Wasn’t my mom supposed to be here, fussing over me (in a good way) for one day of my life? Telling me how beautiful I was? Wishing me all the happiness in the world?

A knock sounded on the door, and for a silly moment, I hoped it was her. Instead, I found Jada peeking through the crack. “Can I come in?”

“Of course,” I said, standing up to greet her.

She pushed the door open, giving me a view of Twyla, who was strapped to her chest in a black baby carrier. It was the perfect accessory to her dark-green bridesmaid’s dress.

“We just got to town,” she said with a smile.

“You’re right on time.” I got up to greet her, but she froze in her tracks, taking me in. “Rei... you look...” Her eyes grew misty. She shook her head, speechless. “Stunning.”

Now my eyes were burning. “Thank you,” I managed, though my voice cracked. I sucked in a breath, blinking fast. “That means a lot. It means a lot that you're here.”

“Oh, babe...” She tilted her head, coming to hug me with her sleeping little girl between us. “I’m your ride or die. So tell me what we do. Ride to this wedding or ride on home.”

I chuckled tearfully and backed up to press at the corners of my eyes. “I’m marrying Quentin today. I don’t want to let him or anyone else down.”

She studied me carefully. “So you told him?”

My chin trembled as I shook my head. Disappointment flashed over Jada’s face for a moment before I held up my hands and continued. “I didn’t tell him because I’m removing the contract from the wedding, and as soon as this wedding is over, I’m getting Conrad to back off until I can find a way to get him out.”

“But he doesn’t know you changed your name,” Jada said. “Or that you’re working with a PI. Or that Conrad has it out for him.”

“There are things I don’t know about him too, but we’ll have time to talk about our pasts once this is all behind us. If he wants to leave me, I won’t take his money.” I shook my head. “I just want a chance to explain things without the pressure of this wedding hanging over our heads.”

“It’s not the way I would do things,” she said. “But I can understand.”

I nodded. “I know.”

Her lips twisted into a half smile, then her eyebrows jumped. “I almost forgot. Quentin gave me a gift for you.” She left the room and returned with a square package wrapped in green paper with a silver bow.

I took it from her, studying the wrapping. “Wow. It’s so pretty I almost don’t want to tear it up.”

Jada bounced from one foot to the other, hand slowly rubbing Twyla’s back. She was such a natural with her daughter. “Twyla can help. She got ahold of my hair yesterday and I’m pretty sure I have a bald patch.”

“Ouch,” I winced. “Remind me to keep my hair up around her!”

“Smart,” Jada muttered.

I brought the gift to the California king with soft white bedding and pulled off the bow. Then I put my finger under a fold of paper and tugged. The thick material came apart slowly, revealing a white box. I took off the lid, seeing another small box and then a manila folder.

Eyebrows tugged together, I took out the folder. Peeling back the top flap, I saw a document labeled PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT with a sticky note on top.

I included a five-year contract with Radiant Cleaning. I’m hoping I’ll be working with you much longer than that. -Quentin

My eyes stung as I studied the note. He was saying he believed in me.

“Are you okay?” Jada whispered, still standing far enough away she wouldn’t be able to read the note.

I sniffed. “He added back in the five-year contract with my company.”

She was silent for a moment.

I reached into the box, getting the pen inside. “I’m going to sign it. If he wants to back out of the deal once he knows the full truth, I won’t hold him to it.”

Her shoulders seemed to relax a little. It struck me that Jada was walking the line my parents refused to—letting me make my own mistakes while encouraging me in the direction she felt was right. I loved that she wouldn’t just tell me I was doing great all the time but wouldn’t abandon me either.