Chapter 2 - We Left Before the Cake
Nobody threw Cordelia out.
Nobody needed to.
I told Elowen:
“We’re leaving.”
She nodded immediately.
That was one of the reasons I married her.
No concern about appearances.
No:
But what will people think?
Bram came first.
The bride, Olivia, rushed over.
She looked horrified.
“Alaric, please—Bram’s seat was supposed to be here.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t authorize that.”
“I know.”
“Please don’t think—”
“I don’t.”
That mattered.
This was Olivia’s wedding.
I would not make her responsible for Cordelia.
The groom, my cousin Julian, came behind her.
He crouched near Bram.
“I’m sorry, buddy.”
Bram looked at him.
“Did you want me behind tent?”
“No.”
Immediate.
Clear.
“No. I wanted you right here.”
Bram glanced at Cordelia.
Children understand conflicting adult truth in a very physical way.
Their eyes move between the people they are trying to decide whether they can trust.
Elowen placed one hand on his shoulder.
“We’re going home.”
Bram whispered:
“Can we?”
“Yes.”
He looked relieved.
That settled it.
Before leaving, I walked to Cordelia.
“You will not contact Bram tonight.”
Her face hardened.
“He is my grandson.”
“Yes.”
“You cannot keep him from me because I changed one seat.”
“This is not about the seat.”
“What is it about?”
“I don’t know yet.”
That was the truth.
Then:
“But I intend to.”
She looked toward Sabine.
Sabine was still holding the seating chart.
My mother’s eyes sharpened.
“Give me that.”
Sabine did not move.
Olivia stepped beside her.
“No.”
It was the first time I had ever heard the bride speak to Cordelia that way.
Cordelia stared at her.
Olivia continued:
“It’s my seating chart.”
That ended the argument.
We left.
Bram asked for fast food on the way home.
Elowen said yes before he finished the sentence.
I normally objected to drive-through food while wearing formal clothes.
That night I bought him fries, a milkshake, and something called a dinosaur-shaped chicken meal that cost twice what it should have.
He ate three bites.
Then asked:
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
May you like
“Does my chair make pictures ugly?”
I almost pulled the car over.
