Chapter 2: The Pregnancy That Never Existed
Nobody left the chapel.
Not immediately.
People stood between the pews, whispering, exchanging horrified looks, and trying to understand what they had witnessed.
I wanted everyone gone.
I wanted to take Nora home, close the curtains, and pretend the last ten minutes had never happened.
But I couldn't.
Not when a phone was ringing in front of me.
Not when my bride was standing beside the altar with a collapsed stomach and a black remote in her hand.
I picked up the phone.
“Hello?””
A man's voice answered.
“Vanessa? Is the demonstration over?””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
There was a pause.
“Who am I speaking to?””
“Ethan Miller. Vanessa's fiancé.””
Another pause.
Then the man sighed.
“Oh, God.””
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face had gone pale.
“Who is this?”” I repeated.
“My name is Dr. Martin Hayes. I'm a plastic surgeon in Columbus.””
“Why are you calling my bride?””
“I think you should ask her.””
Vanessa snatched the phone.
“Martin, stop talking!””
The line went silent.
I reached for it, but she pulled away.
“Give me the phone.””
“Ethan, please. You are making a terrible mistake.””
“Then help me understand.””
She looked toward the guests.
“Not here.””
I pointed toward her stomach.
“You wore a fake pregnancy for five months. You stood in front of my family and accepted congratulations. You let my eight-year-old daughter choose a name for a baby who doesn't exist.””
My voice cracked.
“Where were you planning to take this?””
Vanessa started crying again.
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“After the wedding.””
I stared at her.
“After the wedding?””
She nodded desperately.
“I needed you to marry me first.””
The words were so absurd that for a moment I couldn't respond.
Ryan stepped forward.
“Vanessa, do you understand what you're admitting?””
She looked at him.
“Stay out of this, Ryan.””
He folded his arms.
“You just admitted to deceiving my brother.””
“I love Ethan!””
“Then why did you lie to him?””
She turned toward me.
“Because I was afraid!””
“Of what?””
“Of losing you!””
I looked down at Nora.
My daughter had stopped crying.
She was listening.
Vanessa continued.
“You had a perfect little family before I came along. You had Rachel's photographs everywhere. You had her belongings.
You talked about her constantly. Every birthday, every anniversary, every holiday, there was always Rachel.””
My jaw tightened.
“Rachel is Nora's mother.””
“I know that!””
“Then don't speak about her as though she's an inconvenience.””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“I thought if I gave you another child, you would finally see me as your family.””
“You could have talked to me.””
“I tried!””
“When?””
“You never listened!””
Ryan shook his head.
“That's not an excuse for pretending to carry a child.””
Vanessa turned on him.
“You have no idea what it's like to be a woman who wants a family!””
Ryan's expression hardened.
“You don't get to use that to justify hurting a little girl.””
At that moment, Nora tugged my sleeve.
“Daddy?””
I bent down.
“What is it?””
“Can I tell you something else?””
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“No. That's enough.””
I held up my hand.
“Let her speak.””
Nora reached into the pocket of her dress again.
This time she produced a small photograph.
It showed Vanessa sitting at a table in a restaurant.
Across from her was a man wearing a gray suit.
On the table between them was a thick envelope.
I recognized the man.
Dr. Martin Hayes.
“Where did you get this?”” I asked.
“From Vanessa's suitcase.””
“When?””
“Last Tuesday. I was looking for my blue hair ribbon.””
I examined the picture.
The date printed in the corner was six weeks earlier.
On the back, written in black ink, were four words.
*Don't let Ethan know.*
I looked up.
Vanessa's expression had changed again.
This time, she looked furious.
“You went through my private belongings?””
Nora stepped behind me.
“You told me I couldn't tell Daddy.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“She doesn't understand what she's talking about.””
I turned toward the phone.
“Dr. Hayes, are you still there?””
The speaker crackled.
“Yes.””
“Did you provide Vanessa with that pregnancy prosthetic?””
A long silence followed.
Then he answered.
“Yes.””
The chapel erupted into whispers.
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“Mr. Miller, I think you should come to my office. There are things I cannot discuss over the telephone.””
“Did you know she was deceiving me?””
Another silence.
“Yes.””
Vanessa screamed.
“Martin!””
He continued.
“But there is something else you need to know.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
“Vanessa didn't come to me because she wanted a fake pregnancy.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“She came to me because she wanted medical records showing that she had been pregnant.””
My stomach dropped.
“Why would she need those?””
Dr. Hayes lowered his voice.
“Because she wanted to use them to support a legal claim involving your daughter.””
I looked at Nora.
Then back at Vanessa.
“What legal claim?””
May you like
The doctor answered slowly.
“Custody.””
