“Well, try not to ruin the evening with another one of your dramas.”
She swept toward the head table.
Lily sat very still.
I knew then that my daughter was hiding something important. I also knew she was frightened.
“Lily, sweetheart, we can go somewhere quiet and talk.”
She glanced at Graham, who was laughing with an older relative.
“Not yet.”
I should have taken her outside anyway. Not to pry the secret loose, but to remind her she didn’t have to carry it alone.
Instead, the wedding speeches began.
Graham stood and raised his glass.
“I’m the luckiest man alive,” he said.
The room applauded.
Except Lily.
She pushed back her chair, walked between the tables, and approached the DJ booth before I could reach her.
“Excuse me,” she told the DJ. “I brought a video. My mom doesn’t know about it, but the groom needs to see it.”
The DJ looked at me, then at the small silver drive in her hand. He shook his head.
Graham heard the commotion.
“What’s going on?”
Lily lifted the drive.
“Please. It’s important.”
Vanessa rose so quickly that her chair scraped the floor.
“Turn that microphone off!”
Graham stepped down from the head table.
“Vanessa, what’s happening?”
“Claire put her up to this. She’s always jealous of me.”
“I didn’t,” I said.
Lily turned toward me. Her eyes were bright with tears, but her voice was steady.
“Mom, don’t stop me.”
Graham looked at Lily for a long moment.
“Is it something you think I need to know?”
