Chapter 4 - The Price of Keeping Peace
Evelyn asked to speak with Nora privately.
Not politely.
Not as a request.
"We're going into the side room," she announced. "Right now."
Nora glanced toward Maya.
"I'll speak with you here."
Evelyn's smile disappeared.
"Don't make this more embarrassing than it already is."
"For whom?"
The question hung between them.
Vivian's new husband, who had remained near the head table throughout the confrontation, stepped forward at last.
"Vivian, maybe we should stop the reception for a few minutes."
His bride turned on him.
"This is my wedding!"
"I know."
"Then why are you letting her destroy it?"
He looked at the scattered guests.
"She's not the one who started this."
Vivian stared at him as though she had never heard him disagree with her.
Nora felt no satisfaction.
She had once believed that public embarrassment could change Vivian.
But embarrassment only made her angrier.
Evelyn took Daniel by the arm.
"Control this situation."
Those words finally made Nora turn fully toward her husband.
Control.
Not comfort.
Not protect.
Control.
Daniel approached her.
"Nora, let's just go upstairs for a minute."
She studied his face.
"Why?"
"So we can figure out what happened."
"We already know what happened to me."
His jaw tightened.
"You're making it difficult."
Nora gave a quiet laugh.
It surprised both of them.
"I made it difficult?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Your sister pulled my dress apart in front of everyone. You handed her my purse. And your mother watched the whole thing."
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"I know it looks bad."
"It doesn't look bad, Daniel. It is bad."
He glanced toward his mother.
Then lowered his voice.
"Please don't make me choose sides."
Nora felt the last fragile piece of hope inside her begin to loosen.
She had spent years trying not to put Daniel in uncomfortable positions with his family.
When Evelyn criticized her career, Nora stayed quiet.
When Vivian made cruel jokes about her pregnancy, Nora changed the subject.
When Daniel volunteered their time or money without asking, she tried to understand his intentions.
Every compromise had been presented as temporary.
Every sacrifice had supposedly been necessary to maintain peace.
But peace had become another word for Nora's silence.
"You already chose," she told him.
Daniel's expression changed.
"Nora—"
"You chose when you gave her my bag."
Behind them, Evelyn raised her voice.
"This is exactly what I've been warning you about, Daniel. She wants to separate you from your family."
Nora looked directly at her.
"I have never asked Daniel to stop loving his family."
"Then stop making him prove himself."
"I'm asking him to treat me like his wife."
Evelyn's face hardened.
"Family loyalty goes both ways."
Nora thought of the four thousand dollars.
The unexplained withdrawal.
The strange hostility that had begun after she refused to contribute more money to the wedding.
She turned to Daniel.
"Tell me something. Was that money really for your mother's personal expenses?"
He looked startled.
"Not here."
"Was it?"
Vivian stopped arguing with her husband.
"What money?"
Evelyn interrupted.
"Nora, you have no business discussing finances in front of strangers."
"Then you shouldn't have made accusations in front of strangers."
Daniel looked toward the floor.
His silence was answer enough to frighten her.
"Nora," he whispered, "I was going to explain."
She felt herself grow very still.
The transfer hadn't been a loan for an emergency.
It had been something else.
And whatever it was, Daniel had known all along.
Evelyn stepped between them.
"This conversation is over."
Maya moved to Nora's side.
"No," she said calmly. "You don't get to decide that."
Evelyn ignored her.
She addressed the gathered guests instead.
"My daughter has been under terrible stress. Anyone who has planned a wedding knows how emotional things can become."
Several relatives murmured in sympathy.
Evelyn continued.
"Unfortunately, some people have chosen tonight to settle private disagreements."
Nora recognized the tactic immediately.
Vivian's public accusation was becoming an unfortunate emotional misunderstanding.
Nora's attempt to defend herself was becoming the real offense.
Evelyn lowered her voice.
"If you care about your husband, you'll let this go before you damage this family beyond repair."
Nora glanced at the gold clutch in Evelyn's hand.
"Then tell us where the pin is."
Evelyn went silent.
Her fingers moved instinctively toward the clasp.
May you like
It was the second time Nora had seen her do that.
And now she was certain the gesture meant something.
