Chapter 12
The bride's question stayed between them.
Bernice finally spoke.
“I wanted everything to be perfect.”
The bride looked around the damaged atmosphere of the reception.
“It isn't.”
“I know.”
“You can't control everything.”
Bernice looked toward the doors.
“Adria always thinks I'm cruel.”
The bride said nothing.
“She thinks I don't care about Callum.”
“Do you?”
Bernice swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Then why did you treat him like that?”
Bernice had no answer.
Across the room, Daniel was speaking quietly with security.
The bride watched him.
“Did you know?”
Bernice looked at her.
“Know what?”
“That Daniel had the ring?”
Bernice's face tightened.
“No.”
The bride studied her.
“I believe you.”
Bernice looked relieved.
But the relief lasted only a moment.
“Then why did you accuse Callum?”
Bernice looked down.
“Because I thought no one would question me.”
The bride's expression became sad.
“That may be the worst part.”
Bernice looked toward the floor.
She remembered Callum's frightened eyes.
His small body beside the chair.
The sound of her hand striking his face.
For the first time, she understood that the ring had not been the only thing she had lost that night.
May you like
She had lost her grandson's trust.
And she could not simply demand it back.
