“I’d love to help, but I’ve got somewhere else I really need to be.”
“Do you mind if I just head out for ten?” I say to Freddy.
“Go for it,” he says, waving me away.
I grab the door hanger off the desk where Freddy left it and pass it to Christopher.
“Do you think your sister and Daniel will like it?” I ask.
“Like it? They’ll love it,” he says, laughing as he takes it in. We head to the door, Rob following behind us.
As we make our way down the hallway and to the elevator, I remember that I’ve not asked how he’s doing.
“How’s the speech? Did you manage to get it down?” I ask.
“Just barely. I’ve been fighting fires with my mum all day.” He rolls his eyes as the elevator doors open and we step inside.
“Why? What happened?” I reach for the button.
“You don’t want to know.”
26.Christopher
Saturday
It was bad enough that my mum had to make snide comments about me last night at the family welcome dinner. Now she’s gone and offended everyone else, too, including Daniel’s mum in the bridal suite. She got on her high horse and started going off about how she’s paying for the wedding. Telling everyone what to do, bossing them around like they’re her servants.
I’d thought a nice relaxing massage would calm her down while I worked on my speech, but she came back to the suite more enraged than ever. This time, Daniel’s mum was on the receiving end of her wrath, who burst into tears when my mum questioned her attire and mothering abilities.
Suffice to say, Daniel’s mum didn’t stick around, and I’m sure there’ll be no love lost there. They didn’t like each other much before today anyway.
I’ve already warned Rob and Alexander about what awaits us behind the door as I knock three times. Rob kindly agreed to step in if things get out of hand.
Kate, one of Kelly’s bridesmaids, opens the door and hermouth gapes as she sees Alexander standing next to me. As we enter, I notice Kelly seated by a table, next to the glass cabinet. The blue and white china vases are thankfully still intact. Erica is nodding as she reapplies Kelly’s makeup. Much of it was washed away by the angry tears she cried in the bathroom, where I’d left her when I headed down to see Alexander.
“Where’s Mum?” I ask, placing my hand on Kelly’s shoulder.
She points to the next room, where I see Kelly’s other bridesmaid, Nicole, keeping my mum distracted. I take a deep breath, letting go of Kelly’s shoulder, and nod to Rob to follow me.
“Kate, could you keep Alexander company, while I see my mum?”
“Uh-huh.” Kate’s eyes are like a vampire at sunrise, caught off guard and about to combust. She twiddles with the material of her lilac dress.
I enter the other room and see Nicole nodding and smiling as my mum mumbles inaudibly between sips of her champagne.
“Nicole, could you give my mum and me a moment please?”
Nicole looks at me over her shoulder as if she’s just received a pardon from death row. She quickly gets up and heads back into the main room, leaving my mum, me, and Rob, who closes the door after Nicole exits.
My fists clench as I prepare myself for this confrontation. Rob stands guard by the wooden wardrobe.
“What’s going on with you, Mum?” I ask, knowing full well what she’s going to complain about.
“Daniel’s family, that’s what. His mum comes in here thinking she’s better than us. Judging us. Looking down on me. When they’re the working-class family. Daniel’s the one punching above his weight.” Her jaw clenches as she tightens her grip on the champagne flute.
“Don’t you think that’s a little harsh?”
“Who asked you?” she says. “And who the hell is he?” She points her glass at Rob.
