Chapter 3

3.

She didn't get angry.

If anything, she pouted at me.

"Ervin, I think of Kerry as a brother. The way you just acted was really out of line."

"But I already smoothed it over for you. He said he won't hold it against you."

Seeing my face stay dark,

she came over and looped her arms around mine.

"I'm not even mad anymore. Don't tell me you still are?"

Reminding myself it wasn't the moment to turn on them, I pushed the feeling down and let a smile surface.

"No. I was just thinking about the wedding."

The word wedding made her eyes light up.

"Ervin, you said once we're married you'd add my name to the property deeds. You weren't lying to me, were you?"

I said mildly,

"Of course not."

She hugged my arm.

"Then... since it's going to happen sooner or later, why don't we go take care of it in the next day or two?"

My head snapped toward her, my eyes cold.

The look startled her.

I gave a faint smile.

"No rush. We still have the wedding to think about these next couple of days."

"I said I'd add your name after we're married, and I will."

She smiled along with that and went off to the bathroom, saying she was going to shower.

In the days that followed, I stayed busy.

Maybe afraid I'd catch on to something, Mary didn't keep so close to Kerry either.

Three weeks later, the wedding drew near.

When it was time to go for the suit fitting, my girlfriend suddenly spoke up.

"Ervin, you've been swamped with work lately, so I already did my gown fitting. Kerry's build is about the same as yours, so I had him try on your suit for you too."

The words had barely left her when Kerry, smiling, tapped the suit he was wearing.

"Ervin, new clothes are stiff and uncomfortable at first, so I broke it in for you for a couple of days."

"It'll fit you perfectly when you put it on."

I looked at the green suit on him.

There was a mocking edge to his smile, as if he were making a joke at my expense.

"Take it off."

My voice came out cold.

The two of them froze.

Mary frowned.

Kerry, though, gave a slight smile.

"This is Ervin's wedding suit, after all. I shouldn't be the one wearing it."

As he said it, he stripped it off then and there and handed it to me.

"Ervin, I was only helping you try it out. Don't take it the wrong way."

But the next second, I dropped the suit straight into the trash.

Fruit peels smeared it on the spot.

Mary flared up instantly.

"Ervin, what is wrong with you!"

I stared at her.

"I don't wear clothes other people have worn."

Her whole face was furious.

"If you don't like it, I can get you another one. Why throw it away!"

"You've just wasted all of Kerry's good intentions."

My face stayed cold.

"If you like seeing him in it so much, then marry him."

At that, Kerry jumped in to smooth things over.

"Ervin, don't be angry. Mary only wanted to make things easier for you."

"And she's carrying your child right now. Don't let anything I did upset her and put the baby at risk."