Part 1The Reception

On my wedding day, my bouquet was vandalized.

Then a little kid ran down the aisle, pointed at my husband, and screamed, "Daddy!"

I was still processing that when the child's "mother" showed up—a woman who had to be at least sixty.

I just wanted to sit down and grab some popcorn.

1

"Oh, my God. Who did this?" My maid of honor, Jess, stormed over, holding my bouquet.

The cuts were clean, precise. Every single rose had been decapitated. Someone had taken scissors to it.

"What are we going to do? The ceremony starts in ten minutes! Who would be this horrible?" Jess was spinning in circles, scanning the bridal suite like she was going to tackle the culprit.

My mom, coming in to tell me it was time, saw the floral carnage and went pale. She thought it was a bad omen. She’d never liked me and Mark being together, but I’d worn her down.

"Chloe, we have to go. Everyone's waiting." Mark stuck his head in, already looking impatient. He started to pull me by the arm, not even noticing the bouquet was a massacre of stems.

Seeing his anxious face, my stomach twisted. Was he hiding something? Was this the work of an ex-girlfriend?

Thankfully, my other bridesmaid ran in with the emergency backup—a bouquet she’d made herself from silk flowers. It saved the day.

The wedding was back on. As we lined up, my mom fixed my veil. "I just want you to be happy, baby," she whispered, her eyes already wet.

I saw her tearing up in the front row, and I made a silent vow. I was going to be happy.

"Chloe, do you take Mark to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Mark squeezed my hand, his eyes locked on mine, looking so sincere.

I zoned out. He had to squeeze my hand again to get my attention.

From the pews, our friends were already whispering, "Say 'I do!'"

I thought about our life together, a fast-forward of the last four years. He was a good guy. Right?

I looked at his expectant face and opened my mouth. "I... I do..."

"I DON'T!" A little girl, maybe four or five, burst from the back of the church and sprinted down the aisle. "She's a bad woman! She stole my daddy! Bad woman!"

She was making a beeline for us, but thankfully my brother, Leo, was the best man. He scooped her up just before she could launch herself at my dress.

"Whoa, where'd this little one come from?" Leo joked, holding her. "Folks, anyone missing a tiny guest? Better claim her quick before I take her home. She's pretty cute."

The guests, who had been whispering, all just looked at each other. Minutes ticked by. No one stood up.

I felt the hand holding mine start to sweat. I looked at Mark. His forehead was gleaming. He looked utterly terrified. It was the first time I’d ever seen him look anything but confident.

"Mark," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Who is she?"

"Chloe, baby, it's... it's not... you have to believe me. I haven't done anything to hurt you, I swear." He grabbed my arms, his voice frantic.

"Daddy! Daddy, I want Daddy! Put me down!"

"Ouch! Kid, you bite?" Leo yelped, setting her on the ground.

She immediately scrambled over and latched onto Mark’s leg. "Daddy, why are you marrying this bad woman? Mommy will be so sad!" she wailed, then turned and stomped on my foot before glaring at me.

How does a kid that small already know how to hate?

"Penny, you're little, you don't understand," Mark said, trying to pry her off his leg.