Hermione's POV
"Pass the salt, please."
Jerry's hand shook as he reached across the table. The salt shaker fell over, white grains spreading across the dark wood like snow.
"Sorry." He grabbed it quickly, not looking at me. "Here."
I smiled at him, but something felt wrong. Jerry never acted nervous. Not with me.
"Are you okay?" I touched his hand. It was cold and sweaty at the same time.
"Fine." He pulled away fast, like I'd burned him. "Just tired from work."
Rebecca cleared her throat from the head of the table. My stepmother sat there like a queen, cutting her meat into tiny, perfect pieces. Linda sat beside her, pushing food around her plate.
"Jerry, dear, you should eat more." Rebecca's voice was smooth as honey. "Big day coming up."
"Yes, ma'am." Jerry lifted his fork but didn't eat anything.
I tried again. "Did your father confirm the time for tomorrow? He's still walking me down the aisle, right?"
Jerry's fork clattered against his plate. Everyone froze.
"Actually—" He stopped. Started again. "My father wants to talk to you about that."
"Talk to me?" My stomach felt tight. "About what?"
Linda coughed. Not a sick cough. More like a fake one to get attention.
"Are you alright?" I stood up to help her.
"Sit down, Hermione." Rebecca's words cut through the air like a knife. "Linda's fine. Aren't you, sweetheart?"
Linda nodded, but her eyes looked strange. Happy, almost. Why would she look happy while coughing?
Jerry stood up suddenly. His chair scraped against the floor so loud it made me jump.
"I need air." He walked toward the door.
"Jerry, wait!" I started to follow him.
"Let him go." Rebecca sipped her wine slowly. "Men get cold feet before weddings. It's normal."
"But—"
"Sit. Down." This time her voice wasn't honey. It was steel.
I sat. My heart pounded in my chest like it wanted to escape.
Linda leaned forward, smiling at me. "Don't worry, Hermione. Everything will work out exactly as it should."
Something about the way she said it made my skin crawl.
The front door opened and closed. Jerry had left without saying goodbye.
I pushed my food away. "May I be excused? I don't feel well."
Rebecca waved her hand. "Go. You need to look perfect tomorrow. Can't have dark circles under your eyes."
I practically ran to my room and grabbed my phone. Three calls to Jerry. All went to voicemail.
Please call me back. I'm worried. I love you.
I sent the text and waited. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Twenty.
Nothing.
A soft knock on my door made me jump.
"Come in."
Linda stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She never came to my room. Never.
"What do you want?" I didn't mean to sound mean, but I was too worried to be nice.
"I wanted to see if you're okay." She sat on my bed like she owned it. "You seemed upset at dinner."
"Jerry's acting weird. Something's wrong."
"Maybe he's having doubts." Linda picked up my wedding invitation from the nightstand. "Marriage is a big deal."
"Jerry loves me." I said it fast, trying to convince myself more than her. "He wouldn't have doubts."
Linda turned the invitation over in her hands. "What if I told you I know why he's acting strange?"
My whole body went still. "What?"
"He's scared." She looked at me with those big eyes. "Scared of making the wrong choice."
"Wrong choice? What are you talking about?"
She stood up, walking to the window. "What if someone else needed him more than you do? What if walking away from you was the right thing to do?"
"Linda, you're not making sense."
She turned around, and her smile was back. That cold, scary smile. "I'm just saying, sometimes love means letting go."
"Why are you saying this to me?" My voice shook. "Why now?"
"Because tomorrow everything changes." She walked to the door, then stopped. "Oh, and Hermione? That dress in your closet? The white one? You won't be wearing it."
She left before I could ask what she meant.
I tried calling Jerry again. Still nothing.
My phone buzzed. Finally! But it wasn't Jerry.
It was a text from a number I didn't know.
If you want to know the truth, come to Jerry's apartment. Right now. Alone.
My hands shook as I read it again.
This felt like a trap. But what if it wasn't? What if Jerry needed me?
I grabbed my keys and ran.
The drive felt like forever and no time at all. When I reached Jerry's building, all the lights in his apartment were on. I could see shadows moving behind the curtains. More than one person was up there.
The elevator took forever. Each floor that passed made my heart beat faster.
When I reached his door, I heard voices inside. Jerry's voice. And Linda's.
Linda was in Jerry's apartment. At night. The night before my wedding.
I pressed my ear against the door.
"Are you sure about this?" Jerry sounded tired.
"We don't have a choice." That was Linda. "It's the only way."
"She's going to be destroyed."
"She'll get over it. She's strong."
"Linda, I don't know if I can—"
"You have to! We both know what will happen if you don't!"
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. My hand moved on its own, knocking on the door.
Everything inside went quiet.
The door opened.
Jerry stood there, his face white as paper. Behind him, I saw Linda. She was wearing his shirt. The blue one I gave him.
And on her finger, catching the light, was my engagement ring.