Chapter 5: The Price of Calling Someone Father
At 11:20 a.m., Kiara was no longer smiling.
Her makeup artist had returned to the suite, but she stood near the door holding her brushes, unsure whether she should continue working.
The wedding coordinator had called twice.
The florist had called once.
The hotel accounting department had sent an email with the subject line:
*FINAL PAYMENT REQUIRED.*
Kiara sat on the edge of the sofa, staring at her phone.
Darius paced near the window.
Celeste stood beside the dressing table, repeatedly checking the time.
And Malcolm sat in an armchair, quietly reading a message from his bank.
He had already decided something.
He wasn't going to argue about it.
"Malcolm," Celeste finally said.
He looked up.
"Yes?""
"Can you please speak to the coordinator?""
"About what?""
"The payment.""
He put his phone down.
"Why?""
"Because they're threatening to cancel the ballroom setup.""
Malcolm looked toward Kiara.
"Have you spoken to your father?""
Darius stopped pacing.
"Listen, man. I don't appreciate the way you keep saying that.""
Malcolm tilted his head.
"Which part?""
"The attitude.""
"You mean the part where I expect you to do what you came here to do?""
Darius laughed bitterly.
"I never agreed to pay for the entire wedding.""
Kiara stood.
"But you told me you wanted to take care of things!""
"I said I wanted to be involved.""
"You said you wanted to make up for lost time!""
"I can do that without writing a check for sixty thousand dollars.""
Malcolm looked at him.
"Nobody asked you to write a check for what I've already paid.""
Darius pointed toward the estimate.
"Then what do you want?""
Malcolm answered immediately.
"Nothing.""
That made Darius pause.
Malcolm continued.
"I don't want your money. I don't want your approval. I don't want you to feel guilty about the years you missed.""
He leaned forward.
"I just want you to stop pretending you came here for your daughter when your first concern was what her name could do for your financial situation.""
Darius's face darkened.
"You don't know anything about my situation.""
"Then explain it.""
Darius said nothing.
Kiara rubbed her temples.
"Can everybody stop fighting?""
Malcolm looked at her.
"Of course.""
He stood and adjusted his jacket.
"Congratulations on your wedding.""
Kiara stared.
"Where are you going?""
"Downstairs.""
"You're leaving?""
"You told me who your father is. I'm respecting your decision.""
Her eyes widened.
"But what about the wedding?""
Malcolm paused.
"What about it?""
"You can't just abandon me!""
The sentence hung in the air.
Malcolm turned slowly.
"Abandon you?""
Kiara's expression changed.
She knew how that sounded.
But she was desperate now.
"That's not what I meant.""
"Isn't it?""
He took a breath.
"Kiara, do you remember your high school graduation?""
She frowned.
"Of course.""
"You were supposed to have two tickets for family. Your biological father said he'd come. He didn't. I gave up my seat so your grandmother could attend.""
Kiara looked down.
"That was years ago.""
"Do you remember when your car broke down on I-95 during your first semester of college?""
She swallowed.
"You drove two hours to get me.""
"Three hours. It was raining.""
"Okay.""
"Do you remember calling me at two in the morning because you were scared after your roommate got sick?""
Kiara's eyes became wet.
"Yes.""
"I drove there, sat with you, and took you to the hospital.""
She nodded.
Malcolm looked at her.
"I don't remember any of those things because I wanted a medal. I remember them because you were my daughter.""
Kiara covered her mouth.
He continued.
"And now you're standing here telling me I should pay for a wedding while somebody else gets the title.""
Darius interrupted.
"Nobody said you couldn't be involved.""
Malcolm looked at him.
"Then why don't you walk her down the aisle?""
Darius straightened his jacket.
"I will.""
"Good.""
"And I don't need your permission.""
"You don't have it. You don't need it.""
Malcolm walked toward the door.
Celeste followed him into the hallway.
"Malcolm, wait.""
He stopped.
She lowered her voice.
"Please don't make this public.""
He turned.
"Make what public?""
"You know what I mean. People are arriving. My sister is downstairs. Kiara's friends are here.""
Malcolm looked at her.
"You're worried about what people will think.""
"I'm worried about my daughter's wedding.""
"No. You're worried people will discover that the man who paid for everything isn't standing beside the bride.""
Celeste shook her head.
"That's cruel.""
"Was it cruel when you told me to know my place?""
She looked away.
Malcolm's voice softened.
"Celeste, I need you to answer one question.""
"What?""
"Did you know Kiara was planning to give the father-of-the-bride role to Darius before I arrived this morning?""
She didn't answer.
"Celeste?""
Her eyes filled.
"Yes.""
Malcolm felt something settle inside his chest.
Not anger.
Something quieter.
Something more permanent.
"When did you find out?""
"Three weeks ago.""
He stared at her.
Three weeks.
Three weeks of planning.
Three weeks of choosing flowers, finalizing seating arrangements, discussing photographs, and approving payments.
Three weeks during which his wife knew that he was about to be publicly replaced.
And she had said nothing.
"Why?"" he asked.
Celeste wiped her cheek.
"Kiara wanted a relationship with her biological father. I didn't want to discourage her.""
"I never asked you to.""
"She wanted him to walk her down the aisle.""
"And you thought I should pay for it?""
Celeste closed her eyes.
"I thought you would understand.""
Malcolm gave a small nod.
"That's the problem, Celeste. You thought I'd understand anything as long as I kept paying.""
She reached for his arm.
He stepped back.
"Don't.""
"Malcolm, please. We can talk about this after the wedding.""
He looked at her.
"After the wedding?""
"Yes.""
He shook his head.
"That's what you've been doing for years. Later. After this.
After that. After everybody gets what they want.""
He opened the elevator door.
Before stepping inside, he turned one last time.
"Tell Kiara something for me.""
Celeste looked up.
"What?""
"She doesn't owe me a title. But I don't owe anybody an unlimited credit card.""
The elevator doors began closing.
Celeste stood alone in the hallway.
When she returned to the suite, Kiara immediately looked up.
"Did he agree?""
Celeste shook her head.
Kiara's face fell.
"Mom!""
"He's not changing his mind.""
Darius checked his watch.
"Well, this is getting ridiculous.""
Kiara turned toward him.
"Can you pay the reception balance?""
Darius sighed.
"I told you, I need to review everything.""
"There's nothing to review! It's a hotel invoice!""
"Don't talk to me like that.""
"Then stop acting like you don't have a daughter!""
Darius stared at her.
For a moment, his expression softened.
Then he said something that made Celeste sit down.
"Kiara, I can give you a wedding gift. But I can't become financially responsible for every decision you and your mother made.""
Kiara's lips trembled.
"How much can you give?""
Darius hesitated.
"Five thousand.""
She stared at him.
"Five thousand?""
"That's generous.""
She looked at the estimate again.
Five thousand wouldn't cover the remaining balance.
Not even close.
Her phone vibrated.
The coordinator had sent another message.
*We need a decision within ten minutes. Otherwise, the ballroom arrangements will be suspended.*
Kiara looked at her mother.
Then at Darius.
Then at the empty chair where Malcolm had been sitting.
And suddenly, she remembered something.
A conversation from the previous week.
Her mother had told her that Malcolm kept an old folder in his home office containing important family documents.
She had seen the folder once.
There was a photograph inside.
A photograph of Malcolm holding her as a six-year-old.
And behind it, a document with her name.
Kiara stood abruptly.
"Mom, where is Dad's old blue folder?""
Celeste frowned.
"Why?""
"Because I need to know something.""
Darius looked up.
"What something?""
May you like
Kiara's eyes remained fixed on her mother.
"Something about the money Malcolm has been hiding from me.""
