THE TRUTH BEHIND EVERYTHING
Six of us went into a room behind the sanctuary.
The door closed.
Sophie immediately started sobbing.
“I didn’t know how to fix it.”
Adrian stared at her.
“Fix what?”
She looked at me.
“I told Adrian my family had money.”
I said nothing.
“I said Mom traveled constantly.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“You told me your mother spent half the year in Europe.”
Sophie covered her face.
“I know.”
“You said your parents owned multiple properties.”
“My father technically owned property.”
I finally spoke.
“He owned our house, Sophie.”
She started crying harder.
I didn’t comfort her.
Not yet.
I needed one answer first.
“When did being raised by me become something you had to be ashamed of?”
Sophie lowered her hands.
“I don’t know.”
“Try.”
She struggled to breathe evenly.
“College.”
“Why?”
“Everyone had more.”
“More what?”
“Money.”
“Connections.”
“Parents with impressive careers.”
I stared at her.
“So you invented a different family?”
“At first, I only exaggerated.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Then you met me.”
Sophie nodded.
“And every lie needed another lie.”
Her voice had become almost a whisper.
Then she looked at me.
“When I saw your photo at his parents’ house, I panicked.”
And suddenly I understood everything.
“You didn’t keep Adrian away because you were worried I would embarrass you.”
Sophie shook her head.
“No.”
“You kept me away because you were afraid I would expose your lies.”
“Yes.”
THE PERSON SHE WAS ASHAMED OF WAS THEIR HERO
Janice walked toward me.
Then hugged me tightly.
When she released me, she looked at Sophie.
“For twelve years…”
Her voice shook.
“…one of the most respected people in our home has been your mother.”
Sophie completely broke down.
“I’m sorry.”
Adrian stared at her for a long time.
Finally, he said:
“I love you.”
Sophie looked up hopefully.
“But I can’t marry you today.”
Her face collapsed.
“Adrian.”
“I don’t know which parts of our relationship were real.”
“They were real.”
“I believe you love me.”
His voice remained calm.
“But I don’t know which parts of the life you described were true and which were stories you needed me to believe.”
Sophie covered her mouth.
Adrian continued:
“I want to work through this.”
“But I will not begin our marriage by pretending this didn’t happen.”
After several seconds, Sophie nodded.
“Okay.”
And the wedding did not happen that day.
I TOOK THE LOCKET HOME
Adrian’s parents explained to the guests that the ceremony had been postponed.
Before I left St. Evermere Chapel, the usher found me.
The velvet box was still in his hand.
He returned it.
Sophie saw.
“Mom.”
I looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
Her eyes moved toward the box.
“I don’t deserve that today.”
I placed it back into my purse.
“This was never about deserving it.”
She started crying again.
But I left with the locket.
Some things needed time.
