I had no idea she’d already decided otherwise.
“After today?”
The ceremony was beautiful.
Nick forgot a line of his vows and had to start again. My dad cried.
I loved every second.
Our reception was at our favorite restaurant, exactly where Nick wanted it.
Martha had complained for months that it wasn’t formal enough.
Nick refused to budge.
I loved every second.
“I want the pasta from our first anniversary, those potatoes you steal off my plate, and tomorrow I don’t want us cleaning up after a hundred people.”
That settled it.
We wanted food we loved without the fuss of cleaning afterward.
It felt like us.
We wanted food we loved.
Caroline hugged me when she arrived.
“This feels exactly like you two.”
Martha gave a tight smile.
“I still think they should’ve chosen somewhere more appropriate.”
Caroline frowned.
“I don’t.”
“This feels exactly like you two.”
Martha noticed.
So did I.
Later, I found Martha needling my father.
“This must all feel rather different for your family.”
I stepped between them.
“Dad. Please. Let her walk away.”
Martha noticed.
Martha did.
Dad lowered his voice.
“You keep protecting people from the consequences of what they say to you.”
“I just want one peaceful night.”
“I know.”
I watched Martha cross the room.
“I just want one peaceful night.”
“I thought ignoring her was how I got one.”
Dad shook his head.
“No. You’re taking responsibility for her behavior. There’s a difference.”
A few minutes later, I passed Martha and Caroline near the bar.
“Lydia would’ve organized this differently,” Martha said.
“You’re taking responsibility for her behavior.”
Caroline frowned.
“Why are you talking about my daughter?”
“You know I’ve always thought she and Nick would’ve suited each other.”
“Maybe years ago. But Nick loves Jillian. Leave Lydia out of it.”
Nick appeared beside me.
“She’s right, Mom. Please stop.”
“Why are you talking about my daughter?”
For the first time, Martha looked uncomfortable.
Something about Caroline’s reaction made my stomach tighten.
Before I could ask, Nick took my hand.
“Dance with me.”
On the floor, I rested one hand against his shoulder.
“Dance with me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Stop apologizing for her.”
“I don’t know what else to do.”
“Neither do I.”
For once, I didn’t turn it into a joke.
“I don’t know what else to do.”
Nick looked at me carefully.
“After tonight, we figure it out.”
I nodded.
“After tonight.”
Then Martha cut my hair.
“After tonight.”
My best friend, Alicia, pulled me into the restroom and locked the door behind us.
She turned me toward the mirror.
My hair ended unevenly around my neck.
Two crushed flowers still clung near one ear.
I pulled them free.
“I want to go home.”
She turned me toward the mirror.
Alicia picked up my bag.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll get my car.”
I stared at myself.
Outside were my parents, our friends, our food, our music, and the man I’d just married.
Martha had already decided what happened to my hair.
I wasn’t letting her decide when and how my wedding ended too.
I stared at myself.
“No, wait.”
Alicia stopped.
“I want her gone.”
“Then tell her, Jill. Make her leave.”
Before we left the restroom, Nick appeared.
“Make her leave.”
He looked at my hair and went pale.
“I hated leaving you after that.”
“Then why did you?”
“Because Lydia was already nearby, waiting for my call.”
I stared at him.
“What? You left me after seeing what your mother did… and went to her?”
“I hated leaving you after that.”
“She called me last week, love. Mom had asked her to come tonight and make you uncomfortable.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you kept asking me to keep the peace, and I thought hearing the truth from Lydia might finally make Mom stop.”
He stepped closer.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Lydia was supposed to come in later. Then Mom cut your hair.”
“She knows you’re bringing her in now?”
“Yes. She’s ready.”
That mattered.
He took a breath.
“Yes. She’s ready.”
“If you don’t want her here now, I’ll send her home.”
I looked at Alicia, then back at Nick.
“Tell me exactly what Lydia knows.”
Nick’s jaw tightened.
“Enough to prove Mom invented most of this.”
I opened the door.
“I’ll send her home.”
“Then bring her in.”
When we walked back into the dining room, Alicia stayed close behind me.
Nick picked up the microphone.
Martha saw Lydia beside him and went white.
“No.”
Caroline turned.
“Then bring her in.”
“Lydia?”
Nick didn’t waste time.
“Mom’s talked about Lydia through our entire relationship. Tonight, Lydia asked to speak for herself.”
Martha stepped forward.
“Nick, put that down.”
Lydia shook her head.
“Lydia?”
“No, Martha. You’ve spoken for me long enough.”
Caroline stared at her daughter.
“I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I wasn’t, Mom. Then Martha called me last week.”
Martha’s face tightened.
“I wasn’t, Mom.”
Lydia looked at me.
“She asked me to show up late, spend time around Nick, and make Jill wonder whether he’d chosen the wrong woman.”
My stomach dropped even though Nick had warned me.
Caroline turned sharply.
“You asked my daughter to do what?”
“She asked me to show up late.”
“I was trying to make Jillian understand reality.”
“Whose reality?” Lydia asked. “I’ve never wanted Nick.”
Martha scoffed.
“You would’ve been perfect together.”
“No. You would’ve liked that. That’s different.”
She looked at me.
“I’ve never wanted Nick.”
