Daniel stared at it.
Then he turned toward the manager.
“Mr. Alvarez, what exactly does this mean?”
“It means your mother is the contracting client for the reception,” he replied. “She arranged the principal event package and assumed the agreed financial obligations.”
Vanessa blinked.
“No. My wedding planner arranged everything.”
The wedding planner, Melissa Grant, stood beside the manager looking distinctly uncomfortable.
“I coordinated the arrangements,” Melissa said. “Mrs. Eleanor signed the hotel contract.”
Vanessa stared at me.
“You paid for this?”
I folded the frosting-covered napkin.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“That’s not a conversation for the microphone.”
Daniel reached for my arm.
“Mom, can we please talk somewhere private?”
I looked at his hand.
He withdrew it.
Mr. Alvarez closed the folder.
“There’s a consultation room beside the ballroom,” he said. “We can continue there without interrupting the guests.”
I handed the microphone back to Melissa.
Then I spoke to the manager.
“Please make sure the dinner service continues as contracted. The guests shouldn’t lose their evening because of this.”
“Certainly, ma’am.”
Vanessa looked around at the people watching us.
Her cheeks had turned nearly as red as her lipstick.
“You’ve made this into such a scene!”
I looked at the crumbs stuck to my sleeve.
“Vanessa, I’m going to wash my face. You can decide whether you’d like to join the conversation.”
I walked toward the consultation room.
