Chapter 3

I got to my feet, gathered up my dress, and headed for the stage.

Reid followed behind me.

Every eye in the ballroom was on us.

The emcee stood onstage with a microphone and a broad smile.

"Before the ceremonial ring exchange, let's invite Mr. Callahan and Ms. Winslow to cut their engagement cake and share a little sweetness!"

A huge five-tier cake was wheeled out.

Reid took my hand and picked up the silver cake knife.

His palm was warm. Mine was ice-cold.

"Cora, I messed up earlier," he murmured in my ear. "When this is over, I'll take you to your favorite Japanese restaurant."

I didn't pull my hand away. I simply stared at the cake.

"No thanks. I want to head back to the hospital with Mom early."

Reid frowned slightly, as if he thought I was being ungrateful.

But he didn't say anything else.

He tightened his grip on my hand, ready to make the first cut.

Just then, a startled cry came from below the stage.

"Mal, what's wrong?"

I turned toward the voice.

Mallory was clutching her stomach, her face drained of color as she slumped in her chair.

The relatives around her immediately fell into a panic.

Reid froze.

The silver cake knife slipped from his hand and clattered onto the serving cart.

He didn't hesitate for even a second.

He let go of my hand, jumped off the stage, and rushed straight to Mallory.

"What happened?"

The concern in his voice was impossible to miss.

"I don't know. Mal suddenly said her stomach hurt so badly she couldn't stand it."

Reid scooped Mallory into his arms.

"I'll take her to the lounge."

With Mallory in his arms, he strode toward the backstage area.

The ballroom fell silent.

Everyone looked at one another, unsure how to react.

Even the emcee stood frozen onstage, microphone in hand.

Mom sat in the front row, her face going white.

She gripped the armrests tightly, trembling slightly.

I stood alone onstage, watching Reid disappear down the hallway with Mallory in his arms.

The spotlight remained fixed on me.

I must have looked utterly ridiculous.

"Ms. Winslow, I..." The emcee looked at me awkwardly.

I bent down and picked up the silver cake knife from the serving cart, then wiped the handle with a napkin.

"It's fine. I'll cut it myself."

I calmly sliced into the massive cake, my movements steady and without hesitation.

A few scattered claps came from the guests.

I cut a slice, placed it on a plate, and walked off the stage.

I stopped in front of Mom and handed it to her.

"Mom, try some. It's really sweet."

Her eyes reddened as she looked at me.

"Cora, Reid..."

"His friend isn't feeling well. He went to take care of her."

I cut her off with a smile.

"Don't overthink it, Mom. Just eat your cake."

Her hands trembled as she took the plate. Tears fell onto the frosting.

I pulled out a napkin and gently wiped them away.

"Mom, it's my engagement party. Why are you crying?"

She choked back a sob, unable to say a word.

I turned and motioned to a nearby server.

"Could you check backstage and see if Mr. Callahan needs anything?"

The server nodded and hurried off.

A short while later, the server returned carrying a pink insulated tumbler.

"Ms. Winslow, Mr. Callahan said Ms. Dawson's stomach is bothering her and asked for some hot ginger tea. He told me to use this tumbler."

I looked at the tumbler.

I'd bought it especially for today so I could sip warm tea and keep my throat from getting dry during the speeches.

I'd even decorated it with little cartoon stickers I'd drawn myself.

And now, somehow, it had become Mallory's.

"Okay," I said calmly. "Add a little extra honey."

The server walked away with the tumbler.

I stayed where I was, staring at the engagement photos playing on a loop across the large screen.

In those photos, Reid had looked at me with so much love.