—Verónica, you don’t have to ruin this beautiful moment— Mom intervened, trying to get closer to the microphone with a smile that seemed increasingly forced.
—I’m not ruining any moment, Mom, I’m just clarifying that a celebration doesn’t validate something that its true owners never accepted—I replied.
Daniel stayed by my side and slightly lifted our intertwined hands, reminding me without words that this decision belonged to both of us and that I should not face my family’s demands alone again.
My father stepped forward from his table and asked me to put away the microphone because, according to him, family matters should be resolved in private and not in front of so many people.
—I completely agree, Dad, but the decision to appropriate our honeymoon was publicly announced, and that’s why I need everyone to know that there is no gift or authorization involved—I replied.
Some people began to murmur, while a close friend of Daniel’s discreetly asked her husband how it was possible that someone could change another couple’s plane tickets without consulting them.
Chloe snatched another microphone that had been left near the booth and claimed that I was exaggerating because Mom had taken care of organizing all the details of the trip.
“You told me you would give it to us as a gift when you found out about the pregnancy,” she insisted, raising her voice until several guests could hear her clearly.
I felt a pang of indignation because that statement was completely false, but I decided not to respond with shouting or allow the discussion to become a bigger spectacle.
—Tell me when I promised you that, Chloe, because I have all our messages and no such offer ever appears —I replied.
My sister opened her mouth, looked at Tomás, and finally explained that it hadn’t been a direct conversation with me, but a decision that Mom communicated to them after talking about our vacation.
—Then it wasn’t my promise, but something our mother decided to offer you without asking me—I clarified.
Tomás lowered his gaze and took a step back, while my mother’s face began to redden under the lights of the living room.
For a few seconds I thought that he would finally admit that he had acted without permission and that we could end that scene before causing any more harm.
Instead, she raised her voice and announced that I had always been very fortunate financially, that I could afford another trip, and that my sister needed to enjoy a break before becoming a mother.
“We’re not discussing who needs to rest, but why they consider it acceptable to give away something that doesn’t belong to them,” Daniel replied before I could intervene.
My mother looked at him with disgust, because she had never tolerated anyone questioning the decisions she made on behalf of our family.
“You don’t understand how we support each other,” she said coldly, making my husband straighten his shoulders.
—I fully understand that Veronica has been helping you for years and that you just tried to keep a vacation that we paid for together —Daniel replied.
Chloe started crying and said that we were humiliating her during one of the happiest moments of her pregnancy.
I looked at her tears and remembered all the times I had ended up apologizing for refusing to grant her something she wanted.
That time I understood that I could feel sadness at seeing her cry without accepting that her tears forced me to give up my decisions.
“I’m glad you’re expecting a girl, Chloe, but that doesn’t mean you have the right to keep our trip,” I replied.
My grandmother Julia then appeared by the dance floor, accompanied by my uncle Ramón, who had already placed the cake knife on a table.
Her dentures had been rescued from the champagne glass and were back in place, although she was still deeply indignant about the fright the cannons had caused her.
“Nobody warned me there were going to be explosions at my granddaughter’s wedding,” she protested, causing some guests to let out a nervous laugh.
My mother tried to lead her to her table, but my grandmother gently removed her hand and stood beside me.
“What I also don’t understand is why they’re discussing the newlyweds’ trip when they haven’t even let them dance yet,” she added.
Those words achieved something my explanations hadn’t, because several family members began to look at Daniel and me again.
Lena approached discreetly and asked me if I wanted to stop the music, remove the smoke devices, and continue with the original program.
I asked him to first check that no one had been injured and then to reorganize the reception to make up for our first dance.
