Evelyn picked up her handbag.
Then she turned to Daniel.
“One more thing. Please make sure the staff are paid for every hour they’ve worked. I don’t want anyone losing wages because the evening has become difficult.”
“I’ll see that the contracted arrangements are honored.”
She thanked him.
At the door, Brielle called after her.
“Evelyn?”
She stopped.
Brielle stood beside the table, her wedding gown spreading around her feet.
“I’m sorry.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“Thank you for saying that.”
“Can we please start over?”
Evelyn held the door.
“Not tonight.”
Then she left.
The reception continued after Evelyn left.
The orchestra played until the contracted ending time.
Guests ate dessert, danced, and gradually collected their coats.
But not everything returned to normal.
Several relatives had witnessed Brielle’s outburst. Some had already left before Evelyn reached the meeting room.
Marcus spent much of the evening answering uncomfortable questions.
He didn’t tell people his mother had become upset over money.
He didn’t blame her for leaving.
When his aunt asked what happened, he said, “Brielle insulted Mom, and I failed to defend her.”
That explanation was painful.
It was also accurate.
The promised after-party didn’t take place. Marcus and Brielle told their remaining guests that the reception would end as originally scheduled.
Their marriage was already beginning with a difficult conversation neither could avoid.
Eleven days later, Marcus visited his mother.
