The sun seemed to cloud over, and the happy voices surrounding us became a cloudy din.
Happy, I was happy.
So why…
Why did I feel so…?
Then…nothing.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brad
Daphne went limp in my arms.
I broke the kiss, holding her. “Baby?”
The string quartet began to play. We were supposed to walk back down the makeshift aisle now, as man and wife.
But my wife had passed out.
What was I supposed to do?
Murph nudged me. “Everything okay, bro?”
“She fainted,” I said.
“Oh. Shit. What should we do?”
“I don’t know.” I made a quick decision. I lifted her in my arms and carried her down the aisle like a child.
Lucy and Jonathan, along with my mother, raced behind me.
“Is she okay?” Lucy asked.
“She passed out,” I said. “I need to get her to a bed.”
“Poor thing,” Mom said. “This is just all too much for her. She’s so young, and she’s been sick with the pregnancy.”
I hoped Mom was right. That was all it was.
I took Daphne to the room she stayed in and laid her on the bed. I softly patted her cheek. “Baby? Baby, are you all right?”
Her eyes fluttered open. “Brad?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Are we married?”
“We are. What happened, honey?”
“I’m not sure. I just got really light-headed.”
“Are you better now? Can you sit up?”
“I haven’t eaten anything today.”
“Oh, Daphne, no wonder you fainted. You need to eat. Your body is working hard right now, nourishing our baby.”
“If I need to eat, why does my body make me feel so horrible?”
“I don’t know, but that’s the way pregnancy is. You know that.”
She sat up. “I can’t go back out there.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because I’m completely embarrassed, Brad. I fainted at my own wedding. Now they’re all going to know why we got married.”
“Most of them know anyway. Besides, everyone knows why a couple gets married as young as we are and as early as we are in our relationship. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.” I touched her soft hair. “You’re still…happy about this, right?”
She cupped my cheek. “Of course I am. I just wish my body hadn’t betrayed me like this. I feel like such a fool.”
“You can’t help what happened. But Daphne, you have to eat. Even when you feel sick, you have to force yourself to eat. For the baby’s sake.”
She nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just take care of yourself. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Are you strong enough to come out?”
“I will be. Could you get me some crackers and water? And maybe some protein? I’ll force it all down.”
I kissed her forehead. “Of course. I’ll be right back. I’ll send your parents in. They’re worried about you.”
“Okay.”
“Go ahead in,” I told Lucy and Jonathan when I left the room. “She’s awake. She needs something to eat. I’m going to get it for her.”
On my way to the kitchen, I was waylaid by my father. “How is she?”
“She’s okay. She just hasn’t eaten.”
“I’ll have Belinda fix her a tray.”
“It’s okay. I’ve got it, Dad.”
My father gripped my shoulder. “She’s your responsibility now.”
“I know that.”
“Do better than I did, son.”
I plan to.
I didn’t say the words, though. This was my wedding day, and I wasn’t going to pick a fight with my father.
He continued, “You have your hands full with this one.”
“I know what I’m getting into.”
“Do you?” He cocked his head.
“Damn.” I shook my head, scoffing. “You had her checked out, didn’t you?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“Dad, I’ve had a few other things on my mind lately.” Including things he didn’t even know about. “But I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“You shouldn’t be.”
“Why didn’t you come to me with what you knew before we were married?”
“I thought about it. I did. But there was the issue of the child.”
“For God’s sake. You thought I’d back out, and you want the baby. Of all the—”
“Keep your voice down, Brad.”
I looked around. He was right. The wedding and reception were outside, but stragglers were milling around inside the house. Still, I couldn’t deny the anger whirring through me like the blade of a buzz saw.
“You were afraid you wouldn’t get your grandchild,” I hissed.
“What do my motives matter at this point? You know everything anyway.”
“I do, but Daphne doesn’t.”
“I know.”
“Her father told me everything. Does that surprise you?”
“A little, but I don’t know the man. I will, though. I’ve got my best men looking into him.”
“You’re checking Jonathan out? Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.”
“He’s a man who loves his daughter. He wanted to make sure I was serious about marrying her, and he told me point blank that if I wanted to back out, he and Lucy would take care of her and the baby.”
“Lucy is another matter.”
“You know about that too?”
“Of course. Do you think there’s anything I don’t know about concerning you?”
I stopped myself from gulping. Did he know about the Future Lawmakers? Did he know that Theo, Tom, and Larry were most likely getting into drugs? Did he know I’d fronted them money out of my own accounts?