What She's Giving Up

Her dress is one of a kind.

Her veil, hand made and exquisite.

Her hair and make-up, perfect.

Her something old is cherished.

Her something new is expensive.

Her something borrowed, treasured.

Her something blue, red-bottomed.

Try as she may, she finds nothing wrong as she stands in the full-length mirror. Everything is as it should be. Her bridesmaids have left to begin with their pictures as she waits for the cue to see her soon-to-be husband for their pre-wedding photographs.

She sits down gently at the vanity to give her face closer scrutiny. Just as she notices an eyelash resting on her cheek, there is a knock on the door.

"Just a minute." She calls as she picks up a make-up brush to shoo it away lightly, but it's hanging on as if waiting for a reunion with its brothers and sisters versus being brushed into oblivion. Frustrated, she tosses the brush aside and will let the make-up artist handle it.

She opens the door expectantly to see the photographer's assistant, but no one is there. She looks to the left and right and figures it must be some kids playing games. She curses to herself as she closes the door, but a small tiny noise halts her.

Elsewhere on the posh five-star resort hotel's grounds, the groom stands by the fountain, waiting. He looks at his watch, and she's running a few minutes behind, but he doesn't mind because he has waited his entire adult life for the perfect woman. He knows that no one was perfect in reality, but she was as close to perfection as one could get. His woman is beautiful, educated, career-driven, and, most of all, independent. She was like a breath of fresh air.

He knew she was the right one when she willingly agreed to sign a prenuptial agreement. Having assets of her own she wanted to protect, she all but jumped at the chance with no argument or amendment to the contract.

His second request was a harder pill for her to swallow. Coming from a big family and having to go without, the groom didn't want any children of his own. He had plenty of nieces and nephews he doted on, and for him, that was enough. Having children was a no-go for the groom, and she had to take some time to think about it. She's grown and knew better than to marry a man with the idea she could change his mind, so she searched her soul and gave him conditions of her own. For her to enter a childless marriage, he had to promise to love her and only her. To spoil her as no man has ever spoiled a woman. They would take trips and adventures and enjoy everything life and his money offer.

He agreed willingly and smiled at the thought of spending the rest of his life with this beautiful woman. As he looked towards the bridesmaids taking pictures, he noted how they all filed back into the hotel. He smiled. She's coming out.

He turned his back as he awaited his bride, his breathing mirroring his excitement. He turned his head slightly as the unmistakable sound of heels approached.

"You can turn around," she says, breathing heavily.

"I thought we take pictures without me seeing you."

"I need to see you. We need to talk."

He turns around, and she is drop-dead gorgeous.

"Oh, my goodness," he says as tears come to his eyes. "You are breathtaking."

She looks down at her feet as she shifts uneasily, folding her arms across her chest, taking a deep breath before proceeding.

"I need to ask you a question."

"Anything," he says without hesitation.

"Who is Audrey?" She asks, her voice shaking.

His heart beats out of his chest as he looks down at his shoes, not sure what to say.

Her heartbreaks, his promise to her broken before they even say I do.

Again, this woman is mature and not down with the dramatics, but she needs a decision.

"I made concessions to be with you," she tells him, remaining calm, aware that eyes are on them. "Concessions that I can't reverse."

"I know," he says, wanting to take her in his arms but painfully aware she doesn't want him to touch her. "Audrey doesn't matter."

"You're right, she doesn't, but she's not why I'm out here."

"Then what?" He asks, confused. "Can we do this after the wedding?"

"I want a child." She states plainly and is unambiguous with her demand.

"We discussed this, and we agreed," he tells her as if she could forget what she agreed to. "No children."

"We also agreed you would only love me."

"I don't love Audrey," he says, putting his hands in his pocket and shrugging the affair away. "She's means nothing to me."

"You loved her enough for her to show up here on our wedding day," she says forcefully but keeping her cool. "I want a child."

"Well, I've had a vasectomy, and you had your tubes removed, so it's not possible," he says confidently.

"You're right," she agrees but is not backing down. "I want a child, and we both know you have the resources to make it happen. Will you even consider it?"

He stands looking at his future wife, but he's admittedly selfish and doesn't want to share her with anyone, especially a baby. He had to share his mother and father's affection with his siblings, and he created a life for himself where he gives what he wants when he wants, and he wants his wife to himself. As much as he loves her, his resolve is intact and final. With one word, he drives the nail into the coffin of her love for him.

"No," he says, shaking his head. "I'm sorry."

She nods as she reaches up and pulls her veil off. She thinks about kissing him goodbye but doesn't see the point as she turns and walks back towards the hotel. She rushes towards her room, walking past her bridesmaids, their eyes following her as she goes into her room and closes the door. She informs the wedding coordinator, who waited in the room, that she doesn't want to see anyone and the wedding is off. The former bride asks that she let everyone know, and she nods, leaving the room promptly.

She tosses her handmade veil to the side before taking off her one-of-a-kind dress and putting on her more comfortable street clothes. She scrubs her perfect face make-up-free but leaves the many bobby pins in her hair in place to deal with later. No longer needing her something old and borrowed, she packs them away carefully to return to their rightful owners. As for her something new and blue, she'll donate them because the dress, veil, and shoes are too beautiful to rot inside her closet.

As she collects her belongings, she hears a baby's cry coming from the bed. She rushes over and picks up the newborn, once again reading the note left with him.

I made the mistake of thinking he would love me if I had his baby.

I was wrong.

He picked you and paid me to go away.

I'm going, but you can have his son. Consider it a wedding gift.

Congratulations…

Audrey

Thankfully, Audrey brought bottles with the formula to feed the baby, but being unprepared, the new mom had a lot of work to prepare her home for a baby, but she's unbothered. Again, this grown woman understands what she is doing and what she is no longer willing to give up. She looks at her son's beautiful little face and speaks lovingly to him, promising to love, honor, cherish him and never let him know the feeling of being unwanted or unloved.