The Bride’s Secret

A Wedding Gift

The church doors groaned open.

A rush of cool air brushed against my face, carrying the faint scent of lilies and melting candle wax. Every conversation inside seemed to dissolve at once.

My uncle tightened his hand around mine.

“You ready?” he whispered.

I wasn’t.

But my feet didn't ask.

The first step felt heavier than the second.

By the third, I could hear it.

Heads turned one after another, like a line of falling dominoes. Some people watched in awe. Others didn’t bother pretending.

A woman near the front leaned closer to the man beside her.

Their lips moved.

Another couple glanced in my direction before quickly looking away.

They were talking about me.

Of course they were.

My wedding had already been postponed twice.

Lidia’s emergency illness.

Then because Lidia disappeared the day before the ceremony.

No one had to say a word.

I could hear their questions anyway.

Will she finally get married today?

Do you think something else will happen?

Poor Javier.

I tightened my grip around the bouquet until the stems pressed into my palms.

“Relax,” my uncle murmured without looking at me.

“Easier said than done,” I managed.

The organ began to play Cannon in D.

Its deep notes rolled through the church, swallowing the whispers one by one.

At the end of the aisle stood Javier.

Tall. Perfectly dressed.

It was as though I fell in love over again.

When our eyes met, he smiled.

The kind of smile that had once made me believe nothing bad could ever happen while he was around.

My uncle kissed the side of my forehead before placing my hand into Javier’s.

His fingers felt warm.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered.

“Thank you.” I gave a weak smile.

“You look nervous,” he said again.

“I think every bride is.”

A soft chuckle escaped him.

“I suppose.”

The priest welcomed everyone before beginning the ceremony.

His voice drifted in and out of my ears.

Love.

Commitment.

Faithfulness.

The words floated past without settling.

I kept staring at the polished floor beneath my shoes.

If I looked long enough, maybe I wouldn’t remember the stain spreading beneath Lidia’s head.

Maybe I wouldn’t hear that awful c***k again.

Javier’s thumb brushed lightly across the back of my hand.

I flinched.

“So tense,” he whispered, smiling for the guests.

“Where’s Lidia?”

The air left my lungs.

“What?”

“I expected her to be standing beside you.”

“She…”

My tongue refused to move.

“I don’t know.”

For a heartbeat, he simply watched me.

Then the corner of his mouth lifted.

“Let’s give her time. She always finds her way back.”

“Y— yes.” I lowered my gaze to the floor.

The ceremony passed in a blur. I remembered saying “ I do”. I remembered the claps. Everything else disappeared beneath the pounding in my chest.

The reception hall buzzed with laughter. Glasses clinked. Cameras flashed.

Aunt Jemima insisted we cut the cake again because she had missed the first photograph.

My stomach hurt from laughing at the way she yelled at the photographer for not calling her.

Mother sat across the room with some of her friends, stealing proud glances in my direction.

I finally married Javier. We truly were meant to be.

“My darling,” I teased, wrapping my hands around his neck.

I shifted closer, swinging to the music until our skin brushed. I didn't care when Aunt Jemima stopped talking as though she had never seen a bride cling to her groom before.

All that mattered was just us.

Today was too good to be true.

Javier’s hair gleamed under the chandelier, but even a storm couldn't shake a strand of his hair.

“ Kiss me,” I whispered, pouting my lips up at him.

Javier's smile lingered, but he gently untangled my hands from around his neck.

“ Give me a minute,” he leaned close enough for me to hear.

“ I need a drink.”

Before I could answer, he disappeared into the crowd. I watched him weave through the crowd, accepting congratulations with that same effortless smile.

I stood there for a second, my mouth refusing to close as my confidence had.

Maybe I was imagining things.

Maybe I needed the drink more than he did.

“ Men,” Aunt Jemima laughed behind me.

“ They always find food before romance.”

The master of ceremonies stepped onto the stage and tapped the microphone.

“ Ladies and gentlemen, before dinner continues, the groom has a small request.

Mr Delgado would like to personally thank everyone for celebrating with them.

So, before the gifts are taken away, the couple will be opening a few of them.”

Aunt Jemima leaned toward me.

“ Only Javier would turn gift opening into part of the reception.”

Mother glanced at the stage before looking back at me.

“ At least we’ll know who brought what.”

A young girl hurried toward us carrying a brown box.

“I want you to open this one first.”

I untied it, and inside lay a gold bracelet.

“ I love it,” I cried out, lifting the bracelet so everyone could see.

“ Awwn,” they clasped both hands to their chest.

“ It’s beautiful.”

My family began clapping until a few people joined in. My cheeks warmed as I fastened the bracelet around my wrist.

“ Don’t spoil her too much so she doesn't leave me for you,” Javier teased, pulling me closer to him.

The room burst into laughter again, and a prickling heat brushed up my neck, spreading warmth across my cheekbones.

I couldn't help blushing. Maybe he really was jealous.

One after the other, people walked toward us carrying wrapped packages.

A silver tea set.

A crystal vase.

An envelope thick enough to make Aunt Jemima gasp dramatically.

“ Ohh my goodness!” she exclaimed, fanning herself. “ Somebody loves these two.”

People stopped to offer advice between congratulations.

“ Travel when you're still young.”

“ Never go to bed angry.

“Don't let him win every argument.”

A lady in a blue dress behind me answered.

“Oh, let the man win once in a while.”

“ So that's why your husband spends so much time at the golf club.” Another lady responded.

Music drifted softly from the band, while waiters moved between tables balancing trays of drinks.

I glanced around the hall. Everyone looked happy.

“ Mrs Delgado,” One of the security guards cleared his throat.

“ There’s another gift.”

He held out a plain white box.

“ The gentle man who dropped it off asked me to give it to you.”

My fingers hovered over the box.

“ Did he leave a name?”

The guard shook his head.

“ No ma’am. He waited until I took it then he walked away.”

“Another admirer?” Aunt Jemima nudged my shoulder. “Open it.”

Mother glanced over from where she stood with two of her friends.

“Who sent that one?”

“No idea,” I said, turning the box over.

“There isn’t even a card?” one of Mother’s friends asked.

“Maybe it’s from someone who couldn’t stay for the reception,” another suggested.

Aunt Katy folded her arms.

“Well, don’t keep us waiting.”

I laughed under my breath.

“You people are too curious.”

“Of course we are,” Aunt Jemima said. “Now open it.”

I slipped my finger beneath the ribbon and lifted the lid.

My smile disappeared.

Nestled inside the velvet lining …was my missing earring.

hall buzzed with laughter. Glasses clinked. Cameras flashed. Someone insisted we cut the cake again because they had missed the first photograph