“Eight months after divorcing me because I “couldn’t give him a family,”

Ryan Brooks’s ex-wife.

At his wedding.

Alone.

Or so they thought.

I sat in the last row.

The room was breathtaking.

Thousands of white flowers.

Crystal chandeliers.

A string quartet.

A wall of windows facing the city.

At the front stood a massive screen displaying Ryan and Lauren’s initials.

R & L.

Then Lauren appeared.

Everyone stood.

She was beautiful.

I will never lie about that.

Her wedding gown was silk, simple and expensive.

Her blonde hair fell in loose waves.

One hand rested protectively over the faint curve of her stomach.

My stomach.

My egg.

My embryo.

My child.

I gripped the edge of the chair.

Naomi whispered, “Breathe.”

Lauren saw me.

She almost missed a step.

Then she smiled.

Not kindly.

Triumphantly.

She continued walking.

Ryan took her hands.

The officiant began speaking about love.

Trust.

Honesty.

Commitment.

I nearly laughed.

When the vows came, Ryan looked directly into Lauren’s eyes.

“You gave me hope when I thought I’d lost my chance to have a family.”

My jaw tightened.

He continued.

“You showed me love can still surprise you.”

Lauren cried.

People sighed.