Chapter 4

On the way to the county courthouse, I started to feel "unwell."

"Mark, can you pull over? I feel really dizzy."

He glanced at me, annoyed. "Seriously, Sarah? We're almost there."

"I think I'm going to be sick," I gasped, clutching my stomach.

That got his attention. The last thing he wanted was me puking in his truck.

He swerved to the side of the road.

I leaned out the door, making gagging noises.

"Maybe... maybe we should go back," I whispered. "I don't want to faint in the courthouse."

He swore under his breath. "Fine. But we're doing this tomorrow, Sarah. No more delays."

"Of course, Mark. I'm so sorry."

He turned the truck around, his jaw tight.

Back at my parents' house, where I was staying before the wedding, I made a show of being weak and needing rest.

Chloe watched me with worried eyes. I winked when Mom wasn't looking.

The next few days, I was the most devoted fiancée imaginable.

Whenever Mark was around, I clung to his arm.

I talked loudly about how much I loved him, how excited I was for our wedding, our future.

At the church coffee hour after Sunday service, I gushed to Mrs. Gable, the town's biggest gossip.

"Oh, Mrs. Gable, Mark is just the most wonderful man. I can't believe how lucky I am!"

She beamed. "It's lovely to see young people so happy, dear."

I made sure everyone heard me. Everyone saw me looking at Mark with stars in my eyes.

Mark, preening under the attention, played his part. The loving, doting groom-to-be.

He had no idea.

Then came the church bake sale. It was a big town event.

I was helping at my mother's table, selling her famous pecan pies.

And then Jessica showed up.

She walked right up to me, her eyes blazing. She was visibly pregnant now, no hiding it.

"Sarah, we need to talk."

The chatter around us died down. Everyone was watching.

I feigned confusion. "Jessica? Is everything alright? You don't look well."

I let my gaze drift pointedly to her swollen belly.

A murmur went through the crowd.

Jessica's face flushed. "Don't play innocent with me. You know about Mark and me."

"Mark and you?" I widened my eyes, pure shock on my face. "What are you talking about?"

Mrs. Gable was listening intently, her eyes darting between us.

This was perfect.

Later that day, I "confided" in Mrs. Gable.

"Oh, Mrs. Gable, I'm so worried. I saw Mark driving Jessica towards the clinic in Clearview last week. The one out of town. I didn't want to believe it, but now... with her showing up like that..." I let a tear escape.

Mrs. Gable patted my hand. "There, there, dear. Men can be foolish."

The rumors started immediately.

At first, they painted me as the poor, naive girl Mark was cheating on.

Then, some started to whisper that maybe *I* was the homewrecker, trying to steal Mark from a pregnant Jessica.

Mark was furious about Jessica's appearance.

"What the hell was she thinking?" he fumed to me later. "She's trying to ruin everything!"

"Ruin what, Mark?" I asked, all innocence. "Is there something I should know?"

He backed down. "No, no, of course not, sweetheart. She's just... unstable."

Unstable. Right.

The town was buzzing. My father looked worried.

The stage was set.