Chapter 6 - The Rehearsal Dinner
I stepped into the kitchen before Caleb could answer her horrible question.
“Caleb is keeping his room, Colleen,” I said, my voice sharp and uncompromising.
Colleen jumped slightly, clearly not expecting me to be home so early.
She quickly recovered, plastering on a fake, apologetic smile.
“Oh, Mara, I was just teasing the boy,” she laughed nervously.
Caleb looked at me, his sharp intuition telling him that something was very wrong in our house.
“Go get ready for the rehearsal dinner, buddy,” I told him gently.
Once he was out of the room, I glared at Colleen.
“Do not ever discuss my house with my children again,” I warned her quietly.
She rolled her eyes and muttered something about me being overly sensitive.
Two hours later, we arrived at the upscale restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.
The room was filled with Grant’s family and our mutual friends.
Everyone was laughing, drinking champagne, and celebrating a love story that didn’t actually exist.
I sat at the head table, forcing myself to smile until my cheeks ached.
Grant stood up and tapped his crystal glass with a fork to make a toast.
The room grew completely quiet.
“To my beautiful Mara, and the amazing family we are officially building tomorrow,” Grant said loudly.
Everyone clapped and cheered.
It was sickeningly sweet, and I felt physically nauseous watching him perform.
I excused myself to go to the restroom to splash cold water on my face.
As I stood by the sinks, the door pushed open.
It wasn’t a guest, it was Caleb.
He looked completely pale and his hands were shaking.
“Mom, I need to tell you something right now,” Caleb whispered urgently.
“What is it, baby?” I asked, kneeling down to his eye level.
“I was playing a game on my phone near the back patio,” he started.
“I heard Grant talking on the phone to his mom again.”
May you like
I held my breath, wondering what my brave son had just discovered.
“Grant said that as soon as you guys leave for the honeymoon, he is sending the twins to a permanent boarding school.”
