Chapter 2
"Reed was with me at the hospital that evening," she said.
Avery lowered her eyes.
"I understand wanting to protect your son."
That sentence changed the room. I felt people deciding that Marjorie's certainty was maternal loyalty rather than information.
Reed's older brother, Grant, approached from the head table. He put a hand on Reed's shoulder as if Reed were the person who might become dangerous.
"Let's get everyone out of here," he said. "Tessa doesn't need a scene."
I looked at him. He had not asked Avery a single question.
"Leave me alone with Tessa," Reed said.
"I think she's had enough surprises from you."
Grant's voice carried farther than it needed to. Several phones rose above the tables.
My aunt Joan came to stand beside me. She did not tell me to forgive anyone or remind me how much the wedding had cost.
She simply took the champagne glass from my hand before I broke it.
"You don't owe this room a decision," she said.
Avery started crying then. I had comforted her through a divorce, her father's surgery, and three jobs that had ended with somebody else being unreasonable.
My body recognized those tears before my judgment did. I nearly stepped toward her.
Then she said, "I couldn't let you marry him without knowing what kind of man he is."
"When did you find out you were pregnant?" I asked.
"A few weeks ago."
"And you chose tonight?"
She touched her stomach. "There wasn't a good time."
Behind her, my mother's photograph remained gone.
I turned to Wendy Sloan, the hotel's events director. She was already moving toward the audiovisual console.
"Please stop the video. Keep the file."
Wendy nodded, and the screen went black.
Grant reached for my elbow. I moved away before he touched me.
"I'll take care of the cancellation," he said. "There's a standard form. You shouldn't have to deal with vendors right now."
"You won't cancel anything in my name."
His expression changed for less than a second.
"I'm trying to help."
"Then listen."
I told the guests we would send an update in the morning. I asked them to give us privacy, knowing some would and some already hadn't.
Reed followed me toward the doors, but I stopped him there.
"Give me ten minutes. Then come upstairs."
His face looked suddenly older.
"Tessa, I didn't do this."
"I heard you. I need to hear myself now."