Chapter 7 - THE WEDDING THAT STOPPED
Jason walked out of the bridal suite.
I followed him.
The hallway was filled with people.
Wedding coordinators.
Security.
Bridesmaids.
Jason's best man, Andrew.
Everyone wanted answers.
Jason ignored them.
He walked straight toward the chapel.
“Jason.”
He kept moving.
I caught his arm.
“What are you doing?”
He looked at me.
For the first time that day, he looked completely lost.
“There are two hundred people in there.”
“I know.”
“They deserve an explanation.”
“You don't owe them your family history.”
“No.”
He looked toward the chapel doors.
“But I owe you something.”
“What?”
“The choice I should've given you before today.”
The doors opened.
Conversation inside the chapel stopped.
Every guest turned.
Jason walked down the aisle alone.
No music.
No smile.
No ceremony.
He reached the altar.
The minister stepped aside.
Jason took the microphone.
“I'm sorry.”
His voice echoed through the chapel.
“There isn't going to be a wedding today.”
Whispers exploded.
Jason continued.
“Something happened before the ceremony.”
He looked toward the doors.
At me.
“My mother deliberately destroyed my fiancée's wedding dress.”
Gasps moved through the room.
Margaret appeared behind me.
“Jason.”
He ignored her.
“But that's not why I'm canceling the ceremony.”
I felt my chest tighten.
Jason looked directly at me.
“I'm canceling it because I lied to the woman I was supposed to marry.”
The room went silent again.
“I knew there were serious problems inside my family.”
He swallowed.
“And I convinced myself I could protect her by waiting until after the wedding to tell her.”
His eyes didn't leave mine.
“That wasn't protection.”
“It was cowardice.”
Margaret marched down the aisle.
“Enough.”
Jason continued.
“She deserved the truth before she promised me the rest of her life.”
Margaret reached the altar.
“Give me that microphone.”
“No.”
“Jason.”
“No, Mom.”
She froze.
Jason's voice softened.
“You don't control me anymore.”
Margaret looked around.
Hundreds of eyes watched her.
Her carefully constructed world was collapsing publicly.
Then the chapel doors opened again.
Detective Lena Ortiz walked inside.
Two uniformed officers followed.
Margaret stared at them.
Then at me.
“You.”
I said nothing.
Lena approached.
“Margaret Wilson?”
Margaret lifted her chin.
“Yes?”
“We need to speak with you about an incident involving property destruction and reckless endangerment.”
Margaret laughed.
“Over a dress?”
Lena looked toward the bridal suite.
“That's where we're starting.”
Margaret's smile disappeared.
May you like
Starting.
She understood exactly what that word meant.
