During my wedding, my sister stole the spotlight with her pregnancy reveal. I waited until the last laugh.
When my sister said she wanted to reveal her pregnancy at my wedding for “fun,” I told her no. She did it anyway. I didn’t confront her then. I waited instead.
Never did I do anything petty. That changed when Amanda disrupted my wedding to announce her pregnancy.
Amanda stole my thunder from my birthdays to my graduations throughout our youth. She hated being out of the spotlight, especially me.
However, she had crossed the line this time.
I had a strategy when I entered her lavish gender reveal.
I smiled politely and clapped with the guests as she cut the cake.
I got up and said, “I have some news to share, everyone!”
All eyes in the room turned to me then. I looked at Amanda, relishing her surprised expression, before breaking the news that shook her party.
It began two weeks before my wedding.
After eight months and several failed tests, Mark and I succeeded. Was pregnant. I was pregnant and going to marry my best friend.
It seemed life couldn’t be better.
I thought so until Amanda entered our Sunday brunch.
She walked inside the café like she owned it. Her gleaming eyes and big grin made my gut clench.
She drawled “Sooo,” sliding into the booth across from me. “I have some exciting news!”
“I’m pregnant!” she cried, raising her hands like a queen.
Just blinked. Some of me was thrilled for her. Amanda tried almost as long as Mark and I.
However, her dramatic announcement, loud enough to draw glances from surrounding tables, made my heart drop.
“That’s great,” I said. “I’m really happy for you.”
But Amanda was tossing her hair and grinning at people like a paparazzi-caught reality star.
She leaned forward and lowered her voice.
“I was thinking,” she murmured cheerfully, “I’ll announce it at your wedding. Since everyone will be there! Will be ideal timing.”
Fork stalled halfway to mouth.
That wasn’t advice. It was ordered.
“I’d rather you didn’t, Amanda,” I said quietly.
Amanda briefly frowned. It snapped back.
Come on. Will be fun! Wedding drama is popular!”
I hadn’t told Amanda I was pregnant. I hid it because I knew she would twist it for her own gain.
Mark and I planned to announce it at our wedding toasts, but only my parents and maid of honor knew. However, I realized I had to inform her to protect our moment.
“Mark and I are pregnant. We planned to announce it during our address.”
Amanda briefly bared her face. She calculated with acute eyes.
This artificial grin returned, wider than before.
“Oh? So I’m the older sister. My surprise will probably be bigger “laughed anxiously. “Besides, it’ll make your day even more exciting!”
My jaw tensed. “No, Amanda. Please refrain.”
Her hand waved dismissively. Ok, okay! Be less sensitive. Just a concept.”
My wedding day was filled with pleasure, love, and one little moment of peace—Amanda hadn’t spoken.
By the time we had speeches in the reception hall, I almost thought she would give me this day.
Should have known better.
I sat there with my nonalcoholic sparkling brut, eager to stand and announce our good news.
Before I could stand, Amanda got up and tapped her glass dramatically.
She shouted, “Sorry to interrupt!” through the hall. “But I have news I just can’t keep to myself!”
Im pregnant! Babies coming!” she exclaimed, holding her tummy and gleaming under the lights.
The room erupted. Applause, tears, and cameras.
In seconds, everyone surrounded her, leaving me astonished in my wedding gown.
Amanda grabbed my eye and winked over the chaos.
Looking at Mark, my mouth was wide and tears were coming.
“We can still—” he began, but I refused.
“We’d look petty,” I sobbed. “She’d twist it to make me look like the villain for stealing her moment.”
Amanda constantly planned to cause mayhem, and if I reacted, I was the bad guy.
So I smiled and pretended to be excited.
I had performed it a thousand times. But something inside me hardened this time.
My quiet, steady resolve deepened as my tummy grew throughout the weeks. A fair dosage of bitterness.
When Amanda invited me to her gender reveal, I thought I could get revenge.
You’d expect balloon arches practically touching the ceiling, a DJ spinning Taylor Swift, and pastel mocktails in baby bottles for her celebration.
Every aspect demanded attention.
To conceal my bump, I wore a flowy blouse. By five months, I was clearly showing, but the proper dress made all the difference. (read the first comment)