The Locket at the Wedding
Chapter 01 - The Locket at the Wedding
Seven-year-old Sophie Reed stood beneath the white roses of Holloway Hall with both hands pressed to her throat.
Vanessa Crowne, the bride, held the child’s gold locket in one clenched fist.
“You had no right to bring this here,” Vanessa whispered.
Sophie’s cream flower-girl dress trembled with every breath. She had been invited with six other children from Starlight House, the shelter supported by the Holloway Children’s Trust.
“I was told to give it to Mr. Holloway.”
Vanessa pulled the chain free.
Sophie cried out.
The guests nearest the aisle turned toward them.
Vanessa forced a smile.
“The child stole something from my bridal room.”
The ballroom doors opened.
Adrian Holloway entered wearing a navy tuxedo and white bow tie. He had stepped outside minutes earlier after the officiant discovered that the family wedding ring was missing from its case.
He stopped when he saw Sophie crying and Vanessa holding the locket.
“What happened?”
Vanessa lifted the necklace.
“She was hiding this under her dress.”
Sophie shook her head.
“It’s mine.”
Adrian crossed the marble floor and knelt at the child’s eye level.
“May I look at it?”
Sophie nodded.
Vanessa tried to close her hand, but Adrian gently took the locket from her.
The oval case was scratched and old. A crescent moon was engraved on the back.
Adrian knew that mark.
His younger sister Mara had drawn it on every birthday card she ever gave him.
He opened the locket.
Inside was a photograph of Mara holding a blond little girl.
The child in the photograph was Sophie.
Adrian stared at her.
“My sister died six years ago.”
Sophie’s tears continued.
“My mom said people would tell me that.”
Behind the guests, the wedding videographer’s camera remained recording.
Vanessa’s mother, Judge Evelyn Crowne, rose from the front row.
“Security should remove that child immediately.”
Sophie reached inside her dress and produced a folded note.
Adrian opened it.
The handwriting belonged to Mara.
ADRIAN, IF SOPHIE REACHES YOU, DO NOT MARRY VANESSA UNTIL YOU OPEN THE NORTH ARCHIVE.
Vanessa’s face turned white.
May you like
The orchestra stopped.
And the wedding ended before the vows began.
