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February 16, 2022
“This dress is perfect. Isn’t it?”
Addison angled her head from side to side as she inspected herself in the mirror. She could see her sisters, Sienna, Harper, Rachel, and Lauren in the mirror behind her. They were an ever-present support during the planning of this monstrosity of a wedding she’d birthed from the low-key, who-knew-she-was-like-this, bridezilla-ish spirit within her. But still, even with their support, unease had enveloped her this week. She wasn’t sure she had made the right decision to marry Stone.
Sienna pulled Addison’s hair up in the back. “Three days until...”
“Until I’m Mrs. Stone Bennett.” Addison failed to say it with enthusiasm. She chastised herself.
Girl, stop trippin’.
You are happy.
You are excited.
You are making the right choice.
Right?
She pushed the negative thoughts from her mind, down into her belly where they needed to stay. Love conquerors all. Love conquerors a multitude of faults. We all have faults, but she didn’t think that covered lies of omission.
“Have you decided on up or down hair?” Sienna’s voice broke through Addison’s mental banter.
Addison sighed. “Up. Stone likes it up. He says he sees more of my face.”
“Which he loves.” Harper, more chipper than she’d been in months, spun on a stool.
Harper’s playfulness was getting on Addison’s nerves. It had become out of character for Harper to be lighthearted about anything. Miscarriages had her down for months. Addison was glad she’d come out of the funk, but right now, her sister was moving too much. They were all talking too much. The truth was, Addison was thinking too much.
“I hope forever.” Addison raised her hand to the bodice and stroked the silky fabric.
“It will be forever or until divorce. Either way, you have a good prenup.” Sienna dropped her hair.
“Sienna,” Lauren chastised.
Sienna shrugged. “She does.”
“I love him, Sienna. I have a good prenup because he loves me.”
“So what’s the problem with me mentioning it?”
“It’s rude for one,” Lauren said. “And prenups are not about love or commitment. Not really. They’re about business. You should have a prenup. You own a business.”
“My business is a ship that could hit a glacier that would take it out at any time,” Sienna said.
“No matter what you think, you’re a brand. Why do you think famous women fight for their name?”
“You don’t want to be like Tina Turner in court. ‘I’ll give up all that other stuff, but only if I get to keep my name. I’ve worked too hard for it,’” Harper inserted. She’d been perfecting those lines since they were teens. She sounded just like Angela Bassett’s rendition of Tina.
They all laughed, including Addison. She turned to face her sisters. She’d had enough of looking at the gown. “I don’t know. What if he changes. What if?”
Everyone was quiet, respectfully waiting for her to finish her thought.
“We’ve been together less than a year. I shouldn’t have rushed.”
“You have jitters. I’ve seen it a hundred times. Everyone gets them,” Sienna said.
“I don’t think that’s it.”
Sienna placed her hands on Addison’s shoulders. “No one thinks that’s it.”
Harper hopped off the stool. “You two have been inseparable since the engagement. You’ve turned an eight-month courtship into two years based on time served.”
“I don’t think it works that way.”
“Addison, you know your own mind. You love Stone. He loves you. Everyone can see it.”
“Or he for sure wouldn’t be marrying you.” Harper came closer.
Lauren approached them. Now all three of her sisters were huddled around her. Lauren put a finger under Addison’s chin and lifted her head, so they were looking in each other’s eyes. “Why are you questioning everything? What’s really going on?”
Addison’s chest heaved heavy with the truth. “Stone’s been acting strange.”
Three pair of eyes went wide within seconds.
Lauren asked, “Strange how?”
“He’s hiding something.”
“What do you mean?” Harper practically stuttered to get the words out. She stepped back like she didn’t even want to be close to potential drama.
“I mean he’s hiding something. I’ve tried talking to him about it and he won’t talk.” Addison moved away from them. She turned back to the mirror. Inspected the dress once again.
“What makes you think he’s hiding something?” Lauren asked.
“Text messages, phone calls...he’s distant and frustrated easily.”
“What do you think it is?” Harper asked, “Another woman?”
“No.”
“Then it’s business,” Lauren said such like it was a fact. Of course it was a reality for all of them. They all had men who ran enterprises.
“If it’s business, he should say, ‘It’s business.’ His answer is nothing. His answer is a lie.” Addison decided there was no point not getting into the details. Her sisters were the only people besides Stone who really loved her enough to care about her future. “There’s also money. He’s sending fifteen thousand dollars a month to an account in Maine.”
This news made everyone in the room antsy. They all moved as if repositioning themselves helped them think. Harper sat again. Sienna paced in a tight circle once, and Lauren shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“He left his computer up and the statement was there.” Addison answered the question she knew would be next out of one of their mouths. “He’s been doing it for years. I was able to see three years of history online.”
“That’s not a lot of money for Stone,” Sienna said, emphatically.
“I know, but still...it’s not business. It’s not charity.”
Lauren’s face contorted. She’d gone from being in Stone’s corner to not in ten seconds flat. “This is shady.”
“Confront him. Tell him you won’t marry him like this,” Harper said.
“It’s three days until the wedding,” Sienna said like they didn’t all know it.
“Right and he has three days to make you more comfortable,” Harper huffed, folding her arms over her chest.
“You’re a reporter, Addison. Dig a little,” Lauren said. “Find what he’s hiding.”
“Here comes the messy, problematic advice.” Harper’s sigh was long and hard.
“I don’t want to do that.”
“Oh, please. You have resources. Find out who the money is going to. For all you know, he has a kid or wife or a long-term mistress out there. Find out which it is before you tie yourself to this man.”
“Yes, because we all know Lauren knows hiding a kid is easy when no one is looking for it.” Harper flipped her hair over her shoulder and cut her eyes at Lauren.
Lauren smirked. “Ha, ha....”
“I couldn’t resist,” Harper said. “And it is true.”
“Take off the dress. Get your head out of the Pollyanna sky and find out who he’s sending the money to.” Lauren went back to the window ledge where she’d left her bag and picked it up. “I have to get the kids.” She walked to Addison and kissed her on the cheek. “Seriously, don’t be naïve.” She left the room.
“I vote for naivety,” Sienna said.
“Have the difficult conversation with him,” Harper said. “It’s good practice for marriage.”
The seamstress entered the room. “I’m so sorry. I got tied up.” A smile filled her face. “This is perfect. You are going to be the happiest woman in the world this weekend.”
Addison pushed a smile on her face and said, “I hope so.”