“I’m going home,” I said.
Ethan stood.
“Mom, please don’t leave because of this.”
I looked at him.
“I’m leaving because I’m tired. And because the two of you have a conversation to finish.”
Vanessa rose too.
“Evelyn, I’m sorry.”
I paused.
She looked at the box in my hand.
Then back at me.
“I shouldn’t have torn your letter. I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
“Can you forgive me?”
I considered the question.
“Tonight, I’m not ready to decide what our relationship will look like.”
Her face fell.
I continued.
“You’ve told Ethan things about your family’s finances that he didn’t know. You need to finish that conversation without me.”
She nodded.
I turned toward my son.
“Ethan, I love you. Congratulations on your marriage.”
He looked as though he might cry.
I hugged him.
Then I left the sitting room with Claire beside me.
We passed the ballroom on our way to the entrance.
Music was playing again.
A few guests were dancing.
Someone had collected the torn pieces of the letter from the marble floor and placed them neatly inside an envelope at the reception desk.
The wedding coordinator handed it to me.
“I thought you might want these, Mrs. Caldwell.”
