"Carrie, forget it! I shouldn't have asked for your help. I'll go schedule the procedure right now and terminate the pregnancy. So what if I can never be a father? That's still better than being called a homewrecker!"
Carrie's voice melted instantly. She soothed Graham Simmons the way someone would comfort a child:
"Graham, you are not a homewrecker! Once we get the certificate tomorrow, we'll be legally married. Recognized by law!"
"Don't listen to people who talk without thinking! If anyone dares laugh at you, I'll tear them apart myself!"
Graham only sobbed harder:
"But what about Wilfred? Canceling the wedding must be killing him. You should just go terminate the pregnancy and have the wedding tomorrow like you planned..."
Carrie's voice grew even softer, edged with anxiety:
"Graham, I already worked it all out with him. He just has to wait three years and he'll get what he wants. It's not like I'm going to disappear on him."
"Stop being sad, okay? When you're upset, the baby and I feel it too, and then my stomach starts hurting again."
"And if you cry your eyes swollen, how are you going to be a handsome groom tomorrow?"
Graham broke into a tearful laugh.
Carrie let out a breath of relief, and when she spoke to me again, her tone had softened considerably:
"Wilfred, why aren't you saying anything? Hurry up and apologize to Graham!"
I clenched my fists, cursing myself for being stupid enough to like and comment on that post.
But I hadn't done anything wrong. Why should I apologize?
"Carrie, what if I say no?"
She faltered for a beat, then raised her voice in disbelief:
"Wilfred, push this any further and it's going to get ugly! I'm pregnant. My emotions are already all over the place. And you're deliberately upsetting the father of my child, deliberately making me angry. Do you have any idea how selfish that is?"
"Fine, don't apologize. Then make it right with actions! Call everyone and tell them the wedding's off because you changed your mind!"
As if afraid I'd refuse, she hung up immediately.
Then sent me a text:
Wilfred, I'm begging you, please stop making this harder than it has to be. Graham and I are just signing a piece of paper. It doesn't mean anything. Canceling the wedding is just so we can save your dream ceremony for the right time.
The familiar words stung my eyes until they burned.
The right time.