Instead, she pressed the frosting against my cheek.
The guests laughed.
She laughed too, covering her mouth with one hand.
“Oops!””
I wiped the frosting away with a napkin.
“Very funny.””
“Oh, come on. It’s tradition.””
Then she turned toward my mother.
“Mrs. Carter, do you want some? Or are you worried it’ll get your hands dirty?””
The laughter died.
My mother stared at Vanessa.
For one terrible moment, I thought she might cry.
Instead, she stood.
“No, thank you,” she said.
“I think I’ll head home soon.””
I stepped toward her.
“Mom, I’ll take you.””
“No, honey. Stay with your guests.””
“I’m coming with you.””
She shook her head.
“You have a new wife. You should be with her.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Your mother is an adult, Daniel. She can get herself home.””
I turned on her.
“Enough.””
Richard approached before Vanessa could answer.
“Daniel, a word.””
He guided me toward the bar, away from the guests.
“Look,” he said, adjusting his cuff links, “I know tonight has been uncomfortable.””
“Your daughter humiliated my mother.””
“Vanessa has high expectations.””
“That’s not an excuse.””
Richard exhaled through his nose.
“You need to understand something about marriage. Sometimes a husband has to manage tensions between his wife and his relatives.””
“Manage them how?””
“By not making everything a confrontation.””
I stared at him.
“Would you tell Vanessa to accept that kind of treatment from your mother?””
His jaw tightened.
“That is a different situation.””
“Why?””
“Because my wife would never put Vanessa in such an uncomfortable position.””
The answer was so absurd that I couldn’t speak for a moment.
Richard leaned closer.
“Your mother has had a difficult life. We understand that. But you and Vanessa are building something better. You can’t let old habits and old associations interfere with that.””
“Old associations?””
“Daniel, don’t be naïve. Marriage is also about compatibility.””
He glanced toward the ballroom.
“Vanessa needs a husband who will support her, not embarrass her in public.””
I looked over his shoulder.
My mother was collecting her purse.
She carefully folded her napkin and placed it beside the untouched glass of water. Then she smoothed the front of her dress, checked the hem, and walked toward the exit.
Nobody stopped her.
Not one of the guests who had watched her being insulted.
Not one of the bridesmaids who had laughed.
Not even Vanessa.
I started toward the door.
Richard caught my elbow.
“Where are you going?””
“To make sure my mother gets home safely.””
“Daniel, if you leave this reception now, Vanessa will take it as a serious betrayal.””
I pulled away.
“Then perhaps she should think about why.””
I reached the entrance just as Mom stepped outside.
The night air was cold. A light rain had begun, leaving tiny silver dots on the pavement.
She was standing beneath the awning, looking through her purse for her car keys.
“Mom.””
She turned quickly.
“You shouldn’t be out here.””
“Neither should you.””
I took off my jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
She shook her head.
“You’ll ruin your suit.””
“I can buy another suit.””
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she said, “I never wanted you to have to defend me.””
“I don’t want you to have to defend yourself against the woman I married.””
Mom closed her eyes briefly.
“Daniel, people like Vanessa don’t always understand people like me.””
“People like you?””
She looked down.
“People who work with their hands. People who don’t have money or connections.””
I took both her hands.
“There’s nothing wrong with your life.””
“I know that.””
But her voice sounded uncertain.
I remembered the unknown message.
“Mom, were you at the Miller farm this morning?””
Her expression changed.
Not dramatically. She didn’t gasp or step back.
She simply stopped moving.
The rain tapped against the awning above us.
“Why are you asking?””
“Someone sent me a message.””
She stared at my face.
“What did it say?””
I showed her the screen.
She read it slowly.
When she finished, she handed the phone back to me.
“Whoever sent that message should mind their own business.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“No.””
She looked toward the road.
“It’s not.””
I felt my heart begin to pound.
“What were you doing there?””
Mom opened her mouth, then closed it.
For the first time in my life, she seemed unsure how to speak to me.
Finally, she said, “I was helping someone.””
“Who?””
“A person who needed help.””
“Mom, please.””
She touched my cheek.
“You’ve had a long day. Go back inside. Don’t let this ruin your wedding.””
“I don’t care about the wedding.””
“You should.””
“No. I care about you.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
She reached into her purse and pulled out a folded handkerchief.
