Chapter 3
The groom's name was Daniel.
He had been smiling for most of the evening.
Now he wasn't.
He stood beside the bride with his hands loosely clasped in front of him.
Adria noticed his eyes.
They kept moving.
From Bernice.
To the empty ring box.
To Callum.
Then away.
Adria stored that detail in her mind.
Bernice, however, was still focused on the accusation.
“Search his pockets,” she ordered.
Adria's head snapped toward her.
“No.”
Bernice looked offended.
“Why not?”
“Because you have no evidence.”
“The ring disappeared.”
“And somehow that makes my child guilty?”
Several guests lowered their eyes.
A woman near the dessert table whispered something to her husband.
Adria heard only fragments.
“Poor boy…”
“That's terrible…”
Bernice heard them too.
Her jaw tightened.
She hated losing control of a room.
She turned toward the bride.
“Your ring was missing before the reception even started.”
The bride looked confused.
“I thought you said it disappeared after the ceremony.”
Bernice hesitated.
Adria noticed.
That was another inconsistency.
The groom stepped forward.
“Mom, let's not do this here.”
Bernice looked at him.
“Someone took it.”
Daniel's voice lowered.
“I know.”
“Then find it.”
Adria watched him carefully.
Daniel looked toward the floor.
Callum had stopped crying.
He was staring at him.
Something in Callum's expression made Adria uneasy.
She bent down.
“What is it?”
Callum whispered, “Mom…”
“What?”
He looked toward the groom again.
Then quickly looked away.
Adria waited.
Callum seemed frightened.
“Did you see something?”
He shook his head.
Adria did not force him.
Not yet.
She knew her son.
When Callum was scared, he needed time before he could speak.
Bernice suddenly stepped closer.
“Where is the ring?”
Callum flinched.
Adria put herself between them.
“Enough.”
Bernice's expression became vicious.
“Protecting him won't make the ring appear.”
May you like
Adria looked directly at her.
“No. But the truth will.”
