Patricia approached.
Jenna didn’t answer.
“You knew what your mother was doing, and you let it happen,” Daniel said.
Jenna’s eyes filled.
“I made a mistake.”
“Then why wouldn’t you fix it when Mom asked?”
Jenna looked away.
“I made a mistake.”
“I thought you understood what my family means to me.”
“I do, Jenna.”
“Then we have a lot to talk about.”
Patricia turned toward me.
“Cassidy, surely you can see what you’re doing to them.”
“I do, Jenna.”
I looked at my son.
He’d married Jenna less than two hours ago, and now he could barely look at her.
Part of me wanted to smooth everything over.
I’d done that for years.
But I wasn’t doing it again.
I looked at my son.
“I didn’t put my mother beside the kitchen, Patricia. You did. And when I asked Jenna to fix it, she refused.”
Patricia opened her mouth.
“No. You’ve both had your say. Now I’m getting my mother.”
I turned toward the family table.
“She refused.”
“And I’m going to ask your sister whether she’s willing to give back the seat she was never meant to take.”
I’d met Jenna’s aunt before the ceremony.
She was sitting quietly, watching the commotion.
“Excuse me,” I said. “There’s something I need to explain.”
When I told her about Deborah’s seat, her expression changed.
“There’s something I need to explain.”
“Daniel’s grandmother? Nobody told me I was taking her place!”
“Your original seat is still available. Would you mind moving back?”
“Of course not.” She picked up her purse and looked toward Patricia. “You should’ve told me.”
Patricia said nothing.
“Daniel’s grandmother?”
I thanked the woman and asked the coordinator to show her to the other table.
Then I went to find Mom.
She was standing beside Lucy near the kitchen doors.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
“Daniel wants you beside him.”
I went to find Mom.
Mom looked across the room.
“And Jenna?”
I hesitated.
“She and Daniel have some things to work out. That’s for them to decide.”
Mom studied my face.
“That’s for them to decide.”
“I never wanted to cause trouble between them.”
“You didn’t, Mom. And you don’t have to fix it.”
She reached for my arm.
“Then I’d very much like to sit with my grandson.”
We walked across the room together.
“I never wanted to cause trouble between them.”
Daniel came forward and pulled out her chair.
“Grandma, I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner.”
She touched his cheek.
“You’ve had quite a day, sweetheart.”
He smiled, but his eyes were still troubled.
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner.”
“I wanted you here with me.”
“Then that’s where I’ll be.”
Lucy settled beside her grandmother, and I took the chair on Mom’s other side.
Across the table, Jenna sat quietly. Daniel returned to his seat, but he didn’t reach for her hand.
“I wanted you here with me.”
Daniel turned toward my mother.
“Is that the necklace I gave you for your birthday?”
She smiled and touched the little pendant.
“Lucy helped me put it on. I wanted to look nice for you.”
He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“Is that the necklace I gave you?”
“You always do, Grandma.”
Mom laughed.
Then she slipped her hand into mine beneath the table.
