Page 1 of Bride Games

1

Wedding Day

T he minister beamed at the bride and groom before asking the obligatory question, “Does anyone object to this marriage?” A woman in the back of the chapel shouted a terse, “I do.”

As if rehearsed, all guests swiveled in the same direction toward a woman who wore a white lacy dress. A collective gasp fell throughout the makeshift chapel. Eyes bulging, the bride felt her knees buckle as she heard whispers and murmurs, followed by a heavy, uncomfortable silence. On the supposed happiest day of her life, it felt as if a multi-story building had collapsed on top of her. Seconds felt like a gun-to-the-head hours in a hostage situation.

Swallowing past a huge lump in her throat and blinking back tears, the wide-eyed bride stared in utter shock as her husband-to-be dropped her hand as he fixated on the other woman in white. She watched in horror as he rushed toward the shrill, dissenting voice. Who is this woman and why is she ruining our wedding?