Then a new one came through:
What I just sent isn't something Claudia should see. She's pregnant and reads too much into things. Anyway, just do what I asked. Whatever I owe you, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you after the three years are up!
I laughed out loud.
I waited two minutes. Sure enough, he recalled that message too.
So which was it? Was he lying to me, or to himself?
If he was simply helping Claudia out of obligation, why would he care if she got upset over promises he'd made to me?
The baby in her belly wasn't even his, and he was already willing to go this far for her.
What if the baby was his?
I shook my head, banishing the thought before it could take root.
I typed a quick OK and hit send.
All I got back was a red exclamation mark.
He'd already deleted me. Couldn't wait to make Claudia feel better.
Fine by me.
I didn't dwell on it. I posted on social media announcing that the wedding was off.
People started asking why almost immediately.
Not wanting to stir up drama, I stuck to Harrison's script and said I just wasn't ready to get married yet.
But my friends flooded my inbox telling me I was out of my mind:
"Tilda, Harrison isn't some broke nobody anymore. Every woman in the city would throw herself at him. You call off the wedding now and you're basically gift-wrapping your man for someone else!"
I didn't reply.
Because Harrison was already someone else's husband.
Shortly after my post went up, Claudia sent me a photo of the marriage certificate.
Her tone dripped with triumph as she thanked me for stepping aside.
Tilda, thanks for the assist! Harrison and I were supposed to get the certificate tomorrow, but he pulled some strings and got it done today just to make me happy!
I didn't bother responding. Delete. Block. Done.
My phone buzzed. My mother was calling to chew me out.
"What is wrong with you? The fruit's hanging right there and you won't pick it? What kind of stunt are you pulling? By the time you decide you want to get married, he might not want you anymore!"
I let out a quiet laugh.
"What if he's the one who doesn't want to marry me?"
She went silent for a beat, then laid into me even harder.
"Then you obviously did something wrong! Swallow your pride, say something sweet, patch things up. Don't tell me you followed that man for all those years just to walk away with nothing!"