“I would like tea first.”
While the kettle heated, I emailed the coordinator that the ceremony would not take place. I asked what could still be canceled and what we owed. I did not call it a postponement. After that, I put my engagement ring in the pocket of my bag because I couldn’t bear to look at it.
Mom was reading her phone when I brought the tea. She turned the screen away too quickly.
“What?” I asked.
“Something Celia sent this morning.”
“Show me.”
Her mouth tightened. I heard myself: another person telling her what to do after a day full of it.
“Please,” I said. “Only if you want to.”
She slid the phone across the table. Above a friendly reminder of the appointment was a message from Celia: Evan sent the reference. We’ll get you wedding ready. Below it was a photograph of Mom taken at our engagement dinner, her braid resting over one shoulder. Someone had drawn a red line across it at the jaw.
I stared at the picture until the screen dimmed.
“Did you agree to that?”
“No. I wrote that I only wanted a trim.”
The answer was there, plain and polite. Please keep the length. Just tidy the ends. Celia had replied with a thumbs-up.
My first thought was that Evan had betrayed me again. My second was worse: I had canceled a wedding without understanding how much of my mother’s humiliation he had helped arrange.
I asked Mom to forward the exchange. Then I called him.
“Did you send Celia that photograph?”
He exhaled. “Can we discuss what you did first?”
“I will take responsibility for what I did. Answer me.”
“Yes, I sent a picture. Celia asked what she was working with.”
“Who drew the line?”
“It’s a reference, not a contract.”
I went into Mom’s kitchen so she wouldn’t have to watch my face.
“Who drew it?”
“I did. Your mother said she wanted to look nice. I thought a shorter style would suit her.”
I could hear Celia talking behind him, fast and furious. Evan lowered his voice.
“You know how attached she is to that braid. Someone had to encourage her.”
“She said no in writing.”
“I didn’t see that.”
That could be true. It did not make the rest smaller.
“Send me the whole conversation,” I said.
