I bent to pick them up, but she snatched them before I could and unlocked the door, not once turning her head inmy direction. She disappeared inside, leaving me and Jamison standing outside in shocked silence.
"What do you think happened?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out." I gently touched his arm. "I'll call you later."
His expression tightened with worry, as if she were his own daughter. "Do you think this is related to Manuel? I'll try to reach him on the way home. Give me an update as soon as you can."
"I will."
He kissed my forehead and squeezed my hand before heading to his vehicle. Inside was quiet, but as I went down the hall, I heard muffled sobbing coming from Blossom's room.
Dread knotted my stomach as I knocked softly on her door. "Blossom? May I come in?"
She didn't answer. I heard continued sobbing, so I didn't know if she heard me.
I opened the door anyway and found her curled on her side, facing the wall with her back to the door, her body shaking from the force of her tears. The sight of her like this—my engaging, funny daughter reduced to raw anguish—made my chest ache.
I crossed the room. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, I placed a hand on her shoulder. "Blossom, my love, what happened?"
Her sobs intensified.
"Talk to me. Please." I rubbed gentle circles on her back, the way I used to when she was little and had nightmares. "Whatever is wrong, we can figure out the solution together."
"There's nothing to figure out." She choked out the words between sobs. "It's over. The wedding is off."
The words crashed into me with the force of a physical blow. "What do you mean the wedding is off?"
What could possibly have happened? They were supposed to get married next week. The rehearsal dinner was planned, friends and family coming to town, and her dress was hanging in the closet.
"Exactly what I said." Her voice was muffled against her pillow. She sniffed. "I can't marry him, Mom. I won't."
"But... why not?" I struggled to process what was happening.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Blossom—"
"Please." She curled tighter into herself. "I can't. Not right now."
Concerned and feeling completely helpless, I kept my hand on her back. The problem wasn't wedding jitters or cold feet. A deeper issue had emerged and shattered their relationship.
"Did Manuel do something? Did he say something to hurt you?" The protective mother in me prepared to give Manuel the tongue-lashing of his life for hurting her. Was there another woman, perhaps? I couldn't imagine him cheating after seeing them together and hearing her talk about him, but anything was possible.
"No. Yes. I don't know." Her voice broke. "It's complicated."
Her vague answer didn't tell me much. I didn't know if I should be angry at Manuel or not.
"Help me understand. Let me help you."
"You can't help." The words came out in a defeated voice. "No one can help. We were stupid to think we could make this work." She sniffled, rubbing a rough hand across her eyes.
"The two of you seemed perfect for each other."
She rolled over to face me, the devastation in her eyes making my breath catch. "Seemed. You and Mr. Harris might have been right. Manuel and I were rushing and don't know each other as well as we thought we did."
"But what happened?" I asked again.
Fresh tears spilled from the corners of her eyes. "I can't marry him. I just can't."
