Everyone around us laughs at Jessy’s confession.We all feel the same way because my mother makes a super delicious wedding reception spread.Our home is filled with guests.Even though we only invite a few people, our home has never been this lively.
The decorations in pink, white, and red flowers and balloons fill the entire room.The furniture is rearranged to create enough space for the guests to dance or chat.Soft music plays through the speakers set up in the corner of the room.
Guests step up to change the music, hold the microphone, and sing, and it always turns into a loud sing-along from everyone else.Laird and I also steal some slow dance moments, something I’ll etch into my memories for a long, long time.Even though it isn’t a lavish reception, the festive atmosphere in our home is just as lively.
Our home isn’t quiet for a second throughout the day.The party keeps going into the evening.When everyone’s stomachs are full, the beer runs out, and no one can sing anymore, they finally leave.
Jessy, Matthew, Golden, Lloyd, and Laird, my husband, wow, that sounds unreal, are the last men standing who still have the energy to help clean up the house.We rearrange the furniture, take out the trash, and wash the dishes.
“God, I’m exhausted.”Matthew flops onto the sofa.
Next to him, Jessy sits with his back against the sofa.Lloyd daydreams with a sleepy look beside him, while Golden helps my mother wash the dishes.
“So true.I’m never hosting a house party again.”Jessy shakes his head.
“You weren’t even the host,” Lloyd says with a frown.
“I never asked all of you to stay and help us clean the house, right?”Laird leans back on the sofa.
“Yeah, but we’re family.I don’t have the heart to leave this mess by yourselves,” Jessy says, furrowing his brow.
“Thank you so much, guys.I really appreciate this.If you ever need me, just remember I’m one call away,” I chuckle.
“The house across the street probably needs to call her.Their place is gloomy and the people who lived there moved here,” Matthew says, laughing out loud.
Hearing Matthew’s joke, all of us fall quiet.Especially Laird and me, remembering the reason we rush into this marriage.Even now, Mr.Evans hasn’t said congratulations or a single word to us.Not even to Lloyd, aside from demanding that he does better than his brother.
“Not funny,” Jessy says, rolling his eyes dramatically.“Oh.Do you two know where you want to go for your honeymoon?”he asks, switching the topic.
“I don’t know.Any ideas?”I ask him.
“How about Mexico City?Our vacation plans there fell through,” Laird suggests.
“I don’t know.Mexico reminds me of terrible moments,” I say.
“That’s a better reason to make beautiful new memories and erase the trauma of that place,” Lloyd says.
“You can’t go on your honeymoon until you finish testifying.”Golden walks toward us and sits on the empty sofa.
“And when is that?”Laird asks.
“Next week,” Golden says.
“Then the honeymoon is postponed until next week,” Laird murmurs, disappointment soft and obvious in his eyes.I let out a long sigh.
* * *
The day I testify as a witness brought in by the prosecutor finally comes.After I’m sworn in with the Bible, I give my testimony through a Q&A session with Golden, exactly like I memorized from my witness statement copy.When he finishes, he sits down and the defense attorney steps in to replace him.
I glance at Alan, Peter, and Amy behind the defendant’s table.They look drained, not a trace of makeup.Alan looks even more unkempt and thinner.We exchange nothing but distant glances, and I don’t dare look at him too long.
Mr.Hugo Evans stands and faces me in his luxurious three-piece suit.His hair is neatly combed and this invisible charismatic aura radiates off him.With him and Malcolm Golden in the same room, it’s like there are two suns burning at once, and the journalists in the back practically buzz.
“Mrs.Baxter.What motivated you to assist the feds in the investigation?”
“Like I said before, I needed to do the right thing.”Shit.My voice sounds hoarse and weak.
“The right thing, huh?And how did you know the defendants were doing the wrong thing?”Mr.Evans, my father-in-law, strolls across the courtroom like it’s a stage.
