And before I could ask another question, she turned and hurried toward the bridal suite.
I followed her.
I wish I hadn’t.
Because what I heard through that half-open door changed everything I thought I knew about my wife.
“You went too far, Ashley.””
That was the first thing I heard when I reached the bridal suite.
I stopped outside the door, my hand hovering over the brass handle.
Inside, Melissa Grant, Ashley’s maid of honor since college, stood beside a vanity covered in makeup brushes, perfume bottles, and discarded hairpins. Her bridesmaid dress was wrinkled at the waist, and her eyes kept darting toward the hallway.
Ashley stood in front of the mirror, carefully removing one diamond earring.
“I went too far?”” she repeated.
“Did you see what Daniel did to me?””
Melissa crossed her arms.
“I saw what you said to his mother.””
“She was practically rubbing against my dress!””
“She was trying to hug you.””
“Exactly!””
Ashley dropped the earring onto the vanity hard enough to make the glass tray rattle.
“Do you know how much this gown costs? More than Diane’s car, probably. I wasn’t about to let her get dirt all over it.””
My fingers tightened around the door handle.
Melissa stared at her.
“You cannot be serious.””
“Why is everyone acting like I’m the villain? I’ve put up with that woman for two years.””
“Put up with what?””
“Her constant presence. Her comments. Her ridiculous little stories about freight trucks and warehouse problems. Every time we go somewhere, she finds a way to remind everyone that she built a business.””
“She did build a business,” Melissa replied.
“That’s not exactly a crime.””
Ashley spun around.
“Don’t take her side.””
“I’m not taking anyone’s side. I’m telling you that insulting her at your wedding was a terrible idea.””
Ashley reached for a tissue and dabbed beneath her eyes, although I couldn’t see a single tear.
“The worst part is that Daniel made me look unstable in front of everybody. He took my ring off like I was some woman he’d caught cheating.””
“You called his mother disgusting.””
“I said she smelled like manure. There’s a difference.””
I pushed the door open.
“Really? What’s the difference?””
Both women turned.
Melissa looked as though she wanted the floor to swallow her.
Ashley went pale for half a second. Then she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.
“You were eavesdropping?””
“I was looking for my wife. Apparently, I found a stranger instead.””
She folded her arms.
“Oh, don’t start with the dramatic speeches.””
“Since when is my mother ‘that woman’?””
Ashley glanced at Melissa, apparently hoping for support. Melissa looked away.
“Since she started acting like she owns every decision we make.””
“She paid for our wedding.””
“And now we’re never going to hear the end of it.””
I blinked.
“What does that mean?””
“It means she’ll use this against me whenever she wants. She’ll remind us that she paid for the flowers, the venue, the food. She’ll make herself the center of our marriage.””
I looked at the expensive gown, the designer shoes beneath it, and the jewelry arranged on the vanity.
“Did my mother ever ask you for anything in return?””
Ashley didn’t answer immediately.
“No.””
“Did she ever demand that you thank her publicly?””
“No.””
“Then what exactly has she done to you?””
Ashley threw the tissue onto the vanity.
“You wouldn’t understand. You’ve grown up surrounded by people who think your mother’s rough manners are charming.””
“My mother’s manners?””
“She dresses like she has no idea what occasion she’s attending. She talks about trucks during dinner. She drives that old SUV everywhere. She doesn’t understand how people see us.””
“How people see us?””
“Yes, Daniel! We are married now. Whether you like it or not, her behavior reflects on our family.””
“Our family?””
“Your family,” she corrected impatiently.
“The Bennett name means something.””
There it was.
Not love. Not partnership.
The Bennett name.
I pulled a chair away from the wall and sat down.
“Let’s talk about the house.””
Ashley frowned.
“What about it?””
“The three-million-dollar house you wanted my mother to help us buy.””
“She refused to help.””
“She said she would contribute to a home we could comfortably afford after we’d lived on our own income for a year.””
“That was insulting.””
“She offered to help with the down payment on a smaller property.””
“Because she wanted to control where we lived!””
“She offered you a choice.””
“She offered me a compromise.””
I let out a slow breath.
“And the sports suite?””
Ashley’s expression hardened.
“What about it?””
“You wanted to use Bennett Freight’s private suite at the stadium for your birthday party. Mom said the suite was reserved for company clients that weekend.””
“Because she didn’t want me there.””
