Rebecca had told her I had chosen not to attend.
She had also been told I was “having stamina issues.”
Patricia gave a dry laugh.
“She’s been strangely concerned about old women surviving chairs lately.”
“I hope you know I never blamed you.”
“I never asked for your seat.”
“I know.”
Then she grew serious.
“Margaret, Rebecca has been telling me Sophie wanted a larger wedding.”
“She didn’t.”
“I suspected.”
“You never said anything?”
“I thought it was none of my business.”
“Apparently that has been everyone’s favorite mistake.”
Patricia sighed.
“That’s fair.”
Daniel arrived at my house later.
He looked tired.
“Mom, this has become completely out of hand.”
“I agree.”
He seemed surprised.
“Rebecca says you’re trying to take over.”
“Daniel, I paid for six months of planning without choosing the dress, music, food, band, flowers, or guest list. Explain how I took over.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“You hired a lawyer.”
“I asked an attorney to prevent unauthorized spending.”
“That made Rebecca look dishonest.”
“No.”
I tapped the invoices.
“These did.”
He glanced down.
“What are they?”
“Read.”
He did.
His expression changed.
“She approved this?”
“In my name.”
“She said you knew.”
“I didn’t.”
Daniel read the second page.
Then the third.
“Thirty-one thousand?”
“Yes.”
He sat down.
For a while, the kitchen was quiet.
Then I placed the seating chart in front of him.
He found my missing name.
“What is this?”
“Ask your wife.”
“She told me you decided not to come.”
“No.”
His eyes lifted.
“She said you didn’t want the tension.”
“No.”
I slid Clare’s email toward him.
Then Rebecca’s email.
Patricia will represent the grandmother role.
Daniel read it.
His jaw moved.
“She wrote this?”
“Yes.”
I told him about Sophie.
About the health story.
About the warning.
If you care about having a relationship with Sophie after the wedding, leave this alone.
Daniel looked at the floor.
“I didn’t know.”
“I know.”
“I thought everyone was fighting over details.”
“I know.”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“I kept saying not to make it a thing.”
“Yes.”
“I thought I was keeping everyone calm.”
“You were keeping yourself comfortable.”
He looked at me.
That sentence hurt him.
It needed to.
“Mom.”
“Your daughter has spent months being told I wanted one thing while I was told she wanted another.”
“I know.”
“No. You know now.”
The distinction settled.
He nodded.
“What do I do?”
“Ask Sophie.”
“I have.”
“Did you listen?”
Daniel’s eyes filled slightly.
“I don’t know.”
“Then try again.”
The meeting happened that night at Daniel and Rebecca’s house.
Sophie requested it.
Not me.
Nathan sat beside her.
Daniel sat across from Rebecca.
I almost stayed home.
Sophie insisted.
“You were part of this. You should hear it.”
Rebecca arrived in the living room carrying printed schedules.
Even then.
Paper.
She began before anyone else.
“I think we need to reset because people have become very emotional.”
Sophie looked at her mother.
“No.”
Rebecca stopped.
“No?”
“We’re not resetting.”
“Sophie.”
“This is my wedding.”
“Of course it is.”
“Then stop speaking for me.”
Rebecca’s face changed.
“I don’t.”
“You told Grandma I didn’t want her there.”
“I said there was tension.”
“You told me she probably couldn’t attend because of her health.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From my grandmother?”
Rebecca looked toward Daniel.
He did not rescue her.