“He’s got a kid.”

I choke on the coffee I’m sipping, “What?”

“I said: he’s got a kid,” my bridesmaid and best friend, Kristina says quietly.

“He doesn’t, why would you say that?”

“Baby,” the hairdresser- another one of my friends- says between gritted teeth, “he’s got a little boy. About two years old.”

“That isn’t funny,” I jerk around to face Shy, the hairdresser. “Me and him were together during that time. Two years ago? Three? Him and I were together.”

“Turn around,” Shy huffs, “I’m not good with y’all’s white people hair, you know this. You got so many bobby-pins right now, that if you turn, one will jab at your brain like a sausage and-“

“A kid?” I run my manicured hands down my shaven legs and shiver in my towel. “A son? He couldn’t- he wouldn’t have…”

“The boy is sitting like… outside right now,” Kristina says, fixing her eyeliner. “He’s cute, actually. I don’t know who the mom is, I didn’t-“

“A son? A… son? That’s- this isn’t funny.”

“Baby, turn around,” Shy growls.

My breath comes fast, “Would he… do?”

“You know, I actually thought the boy looked kinda like-“ Kristina is punched on the shoulder by Shy. She shrugs and turns back to the small mirror, a tight frown plastered onto her face.

.•.•.•.•.•

The music plays, it’s my cue. I peep out onto the standing crowd of family and friends and sigh, pacing to and fro, a perfect hand resting on my chin… thinking.

Doo-doo, doo…

Doo-doo, doo-doo…

I take a deep breath and push through the curtains, dragging my white gown with me. The music continues as I walk down the rose petal path- thanks to my beautiful flower girls.

I step up onto the platform and look at my handsome husband for the first time in a whole twenty-four hours.

“You look gorgeous,” he whispers.

I swallow, “Thank you.”

He beams at me, proud of his gorgeous soon-to-be wife. I try to smile, but my eyes water and my legs shake. I’m lightheaded, a small headache threatening to burst into a major migraine.

“…and do you…”

My vision goes in and out. I grab onto his hands as the wedding continues, as he says his written vows. Black dots blot my vision- suddenly I can’t remember what I’m suppose to say.

“…and I want to spend the rest of my life…”

His brows are pulled together as he watches me blink in rapid succession, trying to clear my view from the blurry spots.

“Do… do you have a son?” I hear myself ask aloud, my hands shaking horribly.

That earns several gasps, one of them being my own. I turn to the crowd, scanning for a little boy that looks like my fiancé.

“What? I-“ he stutters and blinks at me.

“Do you?” I repeat.

“Do I-“ he’s cut off by me.

“Do you have… have a son?”

I almost expect the crowd to pull out popcorn. Beside me, Shy covers her mouth and turns away. Kristina reaches out, but thinks better as she pulls back.

The best man looks from me to my fiancé and grunts a warning from somewhere deep in his throat.

“I can explain…” he trails, reaching for my hand.

But I’ve heard enough. I pull away, tears clouding my vision as I stumble from the alter. Shy pulls me away, giving me a small hug before pushing me down the aisle.

“It was an accident- I didn’t mean to-“

“That’s why you use a condom, or keep your shit in your pants,” Shy yells over her shoulder, pushing me faster down the aisle.

But that doesn’t stop me from seeing the little boy. And guess who he’s sitting next to?

…

My sister.