Working as a waiter for a catering company meant that I was constantly around weddings. Every time I stepped into a lavishly adorned venue, the smell of fresh flowers in the air reminded me of our small ceremony. I wish I had known how fragile things may be…
That day, we arrived early to get things ready before the guests and newlyweds arrived.
About an hour later, the guests began to arrive, their joyful chatter filling the hall as they awaited the bride and groom’s return from their photo session. I was in the restroom when my coworker, Stacy, came in, her face blanched with concern.
“Lori, listen,” Stacy said, her voice shaky, “I think you should go home.”
“What are you talking about? Why are you acting so weird?” I said. “Stacy, seriously, what’s going on?”
My heart nearly stopped when I saw the bride and groom. Stacy was right—I shouldn’t have come.
There, standing in front of all the guests, was David… my David, who I had shared my life with for seven years, now standing with another woman.
I marched straight up to David and snatched the microphone right out of his hand. He looked at me, his face full of surprise and anger, but I didn’t care. He deserved every bit of what was coming.
“I have an announcement!” I shouted into the microphone.
“David, or as you all know him, Richard, has deceived you all!” I began, my voice trembling with rage. “He’s already married! To me!”
“What?” the bride stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
David shook his head, his face a mask of feigned confusion. “I… I don’t know,” he stammered. “I’ve never seen this woman in my life.”
“Seven years of marriage, and you were blind?!”
“My name is Richard!” he shouted back, his voice desperate. “I have no idea who your David is. You’re crazy!”
But the bride shook her head, backing away from him. “I loved you, Richard… or David, or whoever you really are,” she said, her voice breaking. “How could you betray me like this? I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
“I’m Richard,” he insisted, desperation creeping into his voice. “And I love you, Kira. I’m telling the truth!”
I couldn’t hold back a bitter laugh. “He’s probably only with you for your money,” I said, the words dripping with contempt.
“Shut up!” David yelled.
The bride shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “No, Richard, I can’t do this. I can’t be with someone who could lie like this, who could do something so awful.”
I stormed outside, ready to tell David I was done and filing for divorce. But when I found him, he was sitting on the curb, tears streaming down his face.
“Of course, play the drama,” I said, crossing my arms.
He looked up, his face twisted with anger. “You! This is all your fault!” he shouted. “My wife ran away from me, and it’s because of you! Some crazy waitress!”
“I’m not your husband! I’ve never seen you before in my life!”
“Oh, really?”
“Go ahead, call him!” he snapped.
I dialed David’s number, putting it on speaker, but the phone just kept ringing. “How strange that you’re not picking up,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
T “Yes, dear. Is everything okay?”
“I told you I’m not your husband!” he said, his voice calmer now, but still tense.
Finally, Richard broke the silence, turning to me with a wry smile. “Well, if I were in your shoes, I would’ve done the same,” he said.
David’s eyes shifted to me, filled with hurt and confusion. “How could you think I would do something like this to you?” he asked quietly.
“He’s your exact double,” I blurted out, desperate to make him understand.
“Yes,” David replied, his voice soft. “But it still hurts that you thought that.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I was just so angry and hurt,” I said, reaching for his hand.
As it turned out, Richard and David were both adopted from the same orphanage when they were just babies. But they were taken in by different families..
For a moment, she just stared at us, then she closed the window, and our hearts sank.
“See? I told you she wouldn’t forgive me,” Richard said, his voice heavy with defeat. But just as the words left his mouth, the door burst open, and Kira ran out, tears streaming down her face. She threw her arms around Richard and kissed him, holding him tight.
David pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry I doubted you,” I said softly, looking up at him.
I laughed, nudging him playfully before leaning in to kiss him. So, my husband gained a brother, and I gained a friend I can’t imagine my life without.
