Chapter 1: The Wedding
Jessica's heart raced almost, as if it was threatening to burst through her ribcage. She stood before the full-length mirror in her childhood bedroom, lost in thought as she marveled at the ivory-white silk gown that hung on her door.
She thought back to when she found the perfect wedding dress, the one that hugged her curves in all the places, the intricate lace detail at the neckline that cascaded down her back like a waterfall. The compliments she received from her friends and family, the confidence she felt..
Yet underneath the realization that today was her wedding day and instead of excitement and anticipation, Jessica was plagued by fears. She had always been a perfectionist, and her wedding day was no exception. She had spent countless hours planning and organizing each and every detail, from the flower arrangements to the seating chart. But now, as she stood alone in front of the mirror, the weight of it all seemed to crush her.
She took a deep breath, hoping it would get rid of the intrusive thoughts that threatened to overwhelm her. But deep breathing wasn't enough, over and over she thought to herself, "was she really ready for this? Was she losing herself to marriage? Was everyone sitting where they needed to sit? What if everyone actually arrives?
As she looked at herself in the mirror, the doubts crept in, each one vying for control. What if everything went wrong?
A soft knock at the door interrupted her spiral of thoughts. “I’m coming in!” her maid-of-honor and best friend, Catherine, announced, slipping into the room with a bright smile. “I bring mimosas!”
Jessica sighed. “I can’t start drinking this early! I’ll look all drunk for the pictures!”
Catherine rolled her eyes, unfazed. “It’s just one, babe. Look at you—you’re all stiff. Loosen up! It’s your wedding day!”
“I just want everything to go well,” Jessica confessed, her voice heavy with the weight of expectations she had placed on herself.
Catherine put a hand on her hip. “Are you kidding? You’ve planned every single detail. No one can even have a hair out of place because you have it covered. Ni se pueden tirar un pedo sin que lo tengas anotado.” She winked, trying to lighten the mood.
Jessica smiled, but her nerves flared again as she whispered, “I think she’s coming...”
“Who? Your little cousin—the one you don’t like?” Catherine asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t say it like that!” Jessica snapped, lightly smacking her friend’s arm.
“What? It’s true. You’ve always talked about her like she’s your nemesis.”
Jessica shook her head, trying to explain. “No, I don’t hate her. It’s just... she stirs up drama every time there’s a family event. There’s a reason my mom practically begged me to invite her precious niece. I don’t want her or her ‘boyfriend’ at my wedding. This is my day, and she’s going to turn it into another episode of her telenovela.”
Catherine laughed, “Listen, if she shows up, she shows up. What’s the worst that could happen? She has fun? I’m not letting her ruin a thing.”
“I know, but this is more than what even you can handle. Every time she shows up, it’s like a bomb waiting to go off.”
Catherine cocked her head, intrigued. “What is it about this guy? You always mention them together, but never the full story.”
Jessica hesitated, then sighed. “Arturo’s not just a guy. His family’s close with mine. They’re practically family, and that’s why they’re here today. But it’s the rumors—the whispers, the drama about them… their ‘affair,’ their crazy rendezvous. It’s embarrassing.” She shook her head, the weight of the rumors settling over her. “I just don’t want my wedding to be another chapter in her ridiculous soap opera.”
Jessica threw herself onto the bed dramatically, venting her frustration. “It’s like my life has to be dragged into her chaos because everything she touches turns into a mess.”
Catherine, ever the supportive best friend, smiled gently and replied, “Look, nothing’s going to happen. And if it does, I’ll drag her to the bathroom and ‘have a chat.’ Today is your day. Take a sip of your drink, relax. You’re marrying Greg, the guy of your dreams. You’ve got your family here, your brothers, me… and David.”
As if summoned by her words, the door flung open with a single loud knock.
“Speak of the devil,” Catherine quipped.
