Mrs. Abbott's contorted face filled my vision, and just behind her stood Denise Galloway, wearing that coy half-smile that never quite reached her eyes.
This was exactly how it had happened before. Denise had waved a forged medical report in front of my mother-in-law and wound her up like a toy.
She'd nearly destroyed my reputation and my wedding.
Mrs. Abbott spat at my feet.
"Shameless little tramp! You almost set foot in my family! I'll beat you dead first!"
Denise put on her concerned act, voice dripping with false sympathy:
"I know the report looks bad, but what if Miss Galloway caught those infections by accident? A dirty towel at a public bath, maybe..."
Mrs. Abbott's voice pitched higher, furious:
"Stop defending her! That medical report says she's had over a dozen abortions! You think THAT was an accident?!"
The aunts and neighbors who'd come to help with my bridal preparations heard every word.
Their gazes slid toward me, thick with disgust and contempt:
"Good lord! The outpost requires a physical before marriage, and it turns out the Galloway girl is THAT kind of woman!"
"Thank God his medic got here in time, or poor Ezra would've actually married that filthy thing."