“Was that so bad?” Jack asks from the corner of his mouth as we pose outside the church for photographs. I'm amazed by the amount of people that are here, and by how many death stares I’ve received from female members of the congregation. Particularly, Annabella.
“You look amazing.” I smile when a familiar face approaches us, and then hug Olivia Stanley so tight it’s like she’s holding me onto the earth.
“I feel like everyone is watching me,” I whisper, as another wave of nausea hits me. I’ve been feeling like it ever since I woke up, but I can’t tell Jack; he’ll take it as a sure sign our hard work has been rewarded. I don’t want to disappoint him when it’s probably just nerves.
“You're the bride, everyoneiswatching. Make the most of it.” She winks as she pulls away.
“Beatrix, pleased to meet you. You can just call me Bea.” The girl standing beside her holds out her hand for me to shake.
“Hi, Bea.” I appreciate getting a warm, friendly smile from her as opposed to a scowl, like every other woman I’ve attempted to speak to.
“You’ve broken a lot of hearts today.” She glances over to the four young women who are clustered together, wearing outrageously large and brightly coloured hats. The looks on their faces suggest they’re at a funeral, instead of a wedding.
“Not intentionally.” I smile back at her.
“Bea, I take it you’ve met my wife?” Jack drags himself away from the couple who took him away and wraps his arm around my shoulder.
“Just introduced myself.” She beams. "Well done, Jack, she’s perfect.” I feel her eyes assessing me, and wonder what she means.
“Honestly, I’m feeling a little out of my depth,” I admit, looking around at all the people gathered in the church yard.
“You just stick with us renegades and misfits, and we’ll see you’re okay.” She winks.
It turns out the wedding breakfast does not happen early like the name would suggest. When it gets to four pm, and I still haven’t eaten, the sick feeling in my stomach has made it all the way up to my throat. I couldn’t eat anything before the ceremony, I was far too nervous. I’ve been paranoid for days that someone here would find out who I am and decide that a wedding with that big an audience would be the perfect place to call me out. I know Jack says his guy is the best, and even though Selena has checked out my new identity and been unable to find any fault, I just can’t help thinking all this is working out too well.
“Are you okay? You haven’t touched your food,” Jack asks when the waiter comes round to clear plates, and he notices mine is still full.
“I’m fine,” I assure him, swallowing the bitter taste in my mouth and smiling. Now that I have the food in front of me, I can’t stomach it.
“It’s amazing what the wedding planner has done to this room,” I point out, trying to distract him. The manor dining hall is hardly recognisable with all the white drapes that hang from the ceiling and gather at the chandelier.
“You need to eat,” he scolds, taking my hand under the table and squeezing it. The corset of my dress seems to be getting tighter around my ribs; the heat in the room is increasing rapidly, and I can feel tiny beads of sweat starting to run over my temple.
“Can you excuse me for just a second?” I drag my hand out of his and head for the door to the hall, lifting my dress so I can race up the stairs when I reach them. The bile in my throat is rising, so I quickly press my hand over my mouth and race faster up the stairs, making it to my room just in time to dive into my ensuite and throw up in the sink. Turning on the tap, I try to rinse it away, all while clutching the edge of the basin and trying to get my breath back. Glancing up at my reflection, I jump when I see him standing in the door frame behind me, looking mad.
“Jack.” I quickly spin around and paste on a smile.
“How long have you been feeling sick?” he questions, stepping closer and looking at the mess in the basin.
“I…it just came on this morning. I’ve been nervous and?—”
“Did your period come this morning?” he asks, stroking his thumb across my chin to wipe away the excess vomit I must have missed.
“No, but that doesn’t mean–”
“Come on.” Snatching my hand, he drags me out my room, across the hallway, and into his own bathroom.
“Sit.” He raises the toilet lid and starts lifting my dress.
“I’m perfectly capable of sitting on the loo.” I snatch the fabric from his hands and raise it up, before dropping my panties and doing as he asked. It’s pointless trying to argue. I can’t hold this off any longer, evenI’mstarting to suspect that this could have actually worked. I’ve never been this late before.
Jack opens his bathroom cabinet and takes out a pregnancy test, peeling the foil of the stick open with his teeth and making it somehow look sexy.
“Jack, I don’t think you should count on thi— What the fuck are you doing?” I look at him in horror as he dips his hand between my legs and holds the thing in place.
“I’m making this easy on you; you have to hold up that huge dress.” He smiles like he actually expects me to pee while he holds it.
“Jack, I’m not peeing with you watching.” I stare at him in shock.
