Chapter 2: The Price of an Apology
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The bridal room looked like a photograph of a disaster.
One piece of ivory lace lay on the carpet. The torn wedding veil rested across the table. Robert's photograph sat in two broken halves beside a bottle of expensive foundation.
Vivian stared at Darlene.
“Put the scissors down.””
Darlene didn't move.
“Why?””
“Because you're acting crazy.””
Darlene glanced at the photograph.
“Was I acting crazy when I asked you to be careful with it?””
Vivian pressed her lips together.
“That's different.””
“How?””
“Because this is my wedding!””
Darlene nodded slowly.
“And that was my husband.””
Vivian looked toward the bridesmaids.
“Can someone please get her away from my dress?””
Nicole took a cautious step forward.
“Vivian, maybe we should just take a breath.””
“Don't tell me to breathe!”” Vivian snapped.
“Look at my veil!””
Tasha bent down and picked up the fallen lace.
“It's a small section, but the damage is real.””
Vivian grabbed the fabric from her.
“Small? Do you know what this cost?””
Darlene watched her carefully.
“Do you know what that photograph meant to me?””
Vivian threw the lace onto the table.
“It's a photograph! You can print another one!””
The room went silent.
Darlene's eyes glistened.
“You cannot print another Robert.””
Vivian looked away.
For a moment, the older woman's words seemed to reach somewhere inside her.
But then Vivian noticed her reflection in the mirror.
Her makeup was still perfect.
Her wedding dress was untouched.
She straightened her shoulders.
“Fine. You want to play games? Let's talk about money.””
Darlene raised an eyebrow.
“Money?””
“You damaged my property. The veil is worth three thousand dollars. You can pay for the replacement.””
Darlene placed the scissors on the table.
“I won't pay for something you made me do.””
Vivian laughed in disbelief.
“Made you?””
“You tore my photograph.””
“Because you insisted on bringing it into my wedding!””
Darlene's face tightened.
“I asked to hold it for one family picture.””
“And I said no!””
“You never said no. You took it out of my hands and destroyed it.””
Vivian stepped closer.
“Listen carefully. Nobody is going to ruin my wedding because they can't accept that the world doesn't revolve around them.””
Darlene stared at her.
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“That's exactly what you did to me.””
Vivian's cheeks flushed.
Before she could respond, the door opened.
A tall man in a dark suit entered, carrying his phone.
It was Marcus, Darlene's son and Vivian's groom.
He stopped immediately.
“What happened?””
Vivian's expression changed.
Within seconds, her eyes filled with tears.
“Marcus!””
She rushed toward him.
“Your mother just attacked my wedding veil!””
Marcus looked from Vivian to the table.
Then he saw the torn lace.
“What?””
Vivian pointed toward Darlene.
“She grabbed the scissors and cut it! I told her to stop, but she wouldn't listen.””
Marcus turned to his mother.
“Mom?””
Darlene remained still.
“Ask her what happened before I picked up the scissors.””
Vivian shook her head.
“Marcus, don't let her twist this. She has been trying to make everything about herself all morning.””
Marcus looked at the photograph.
Two halves.
One face torn apart.
He recognized it immediately.
“Mom, is that Dad?””
Darlene nodded.
“Yes.””
Marcus picked up the pieces.
His thumb moved over his father's face.
“What happened?””
Darlene took a breath.
“Your bride asked to see it. Then she tore it in half.””
Marcus looked at Vivian.
“Vivian, did you do that?””
Vivian folded her arms.
“I didn't think it was appropriate for wedding pictures.””
“You could have just said that.””
“I did what I thought was necessary.””
Marcus looked down at the photograph again.
“That's the last picture of Dad.””
Vivian's expression hardened.
“And I'm supposed to spend my wedding apologizing to a dead man?””
The words landed heavily.
Marcus stared at her.
Tasha looked down.
Nicole covered her mouth.
Darlene closed her eyes.
Marcus spoke quietly.
“Vivian. That's enough.””
Vivian's eyebrows shot up.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
She stepped toward him.
“Your mother destroyed my veil!””
Marcus pointed at the photograph.
“And you destroyed something that cannot be replaced.””
Vivian's eyes filled with tears again.
But this time, her voice became softer.
“Baby, I was stressed. I have been planning this wedding for a year. I just wanted everything perfect.””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Then why did you humiliate her?””
“I didn't humiliate her!””
Tasha finally spoke.
“I saw what happened.””
Vivian turned.
“Tasha, stay out of this.””
“No,” Tasha replied.
“I won't. Mrs. Darlene asked politely. You took the picture and ripped it.””
Vivian looked betrayed.
“You're supposed to be my bridesmaid!””
“I'm supposed to be your friend,” Tasha answered.
“That doesn't mean I have to pretend something cruel was acceptable.””
Vivian's jaw tightened.
She looked at Marcus.
“Are you really going to let them gang up on me?””
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he picked up the two halves of the photograph and carefully placed them together.
“Mom, let's get this repaired.””
Darlene shook her head.
“It's all right, sweetheart.””
“No, it isn't.””
She looked at her son.
“Your father would have hated seeing you fight on your wedding day.””
Marcus swallowed.
Then Vivian reached for his arm.
“Come on. We need to finish getting ready.””
He pulled away gently.
“Give me a minute.””
Vivian stared at him.
Her expression had changed again.
This time, it wasn't anger.
It was calculation.
She glanced at the damaged veil, then at the expensive watch on Marcus's wrist.
Finally, she looked toward the doorway.
A wedding coordinator stood there holding a clipboard.
“Vivian?”” the woman asked.
“The photographer is ready for the family portraits.””
Vivian wiped her eyes.
“Tell him we'll be there in five minutes.””
Then she leaned close to Marcus.
“We need to talk. Privately.””
Marcus frowned.
“About what?””
Vivian lowered her voice.
“About the woman who has been paying for this wedding.””
Darlene looked up.
Marcus slowly turned toward his bride.
“What are you talking about?””
May you like
Vivian smiled faintly.
“Maybe it's time your mother told you the truth about the money.””
