Chapter 7
The diamond ring slipped from Daniel's tuxedo pocket.
It hit the floor.
Then rolled.
Slowly.
Silently.
It passed between two chairs.
It crossed a patch of reflected chandelier light.
Then it stopped beside the bride's shoe.
Nobody moved.
The bride stared down.
Her lips parted.
Bernice's face went completely still.
Callum clutched Adria's hand.
Adria looked at the ring.
Then at Daniel.
Daniel stared at the floor.
The bride bent slowly and picked up the diamond.
She looked at it.
Then at Daniel.
“You had it.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I…”
The word disappeared.
Bernice's expression changed from anger to disbelief.
Adria remained still.
She had expected the truth.
But seeing the ring actually fall from his pocket was something else.
The bride's eyes filled with tears.
“Why?”
Daniel said nothing.
“Why would you do this?”
Still nothing.
The room was silent.
Callum looked up at his mother.
Adria squeezed his hand.
“You did the right thing,” she whispered.
Callum nodded.
Bernice heard.
Her face tightened.
She looked at Adria.
Then at Callum.
For the first time, she seemed to realize what she had done.
But Adria wasn't finished.
She stepped toward Bernice.
“Still want security called?”
Bernice froze.
The words were calm.
Almost gentle.
That made them more frightening.
Bernice swallowed.
She looked toward the security guards.
Then at Callum.
The boy was standing behind his mother.
May you like
He looked small.
But he was no longer hiding.
