Vanessa whispered, “You’re ruining our wedding.”
I looked at her.
“No.”
I pointed toward the flowers, the tables, the musicians, the lake, the enormous white tent.
“You ruined your wedding.”
Then I pointed toward Margaret.
“You ruined something much more important.”
Vanessa followed my gaze.
“What?”
I answered quietly.
“The chance to become part of this family.”
Daniel began crying.
Not loudly.
Just silent tears running down his face.
He walked toward his mother.
“Mom, I am sorry.”
Margaret didn’t respond.
“I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Still nothing.
“I was trying to keep Vanessa happy.”
Margaret finally looked at him.
“And did you?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“Then what did you gain?”
He had no answer.
I looked at the band.
“You can stop playing.”
The musicians began packing their equipment.
Guests started standing.
Some quietly left.
Others approached Margaret before leaving.
An elderly woman hugged her.
A cousin kissed her cheek.
One of Daniel’s old teachers held her hand and told her she had done nothing wrong.
The strange thing was that nobody seemed interested in Vanessa anymore.
She had spent months planning the perfect wedding.
The flowers.
The dress.
The photographs.
The champagne.
The guest list.
