“Can we please keep tonight peaceful?”
Melissa stared at him.
For a moment, she seemed genuinely hurt.
Then she nodded.
“Of course.”
She walked toward Evelyn.
Lauren watched her go.
“Your sister really doesn’t like me.”
Daniel sighed.
“She’s worried about Mom.”
“Apparently, I’m not allowed to be worried.”
“That’s not what she said.”
Lauren turned toward him.
“Daniel, I’m exhausted.”
He looked at her.
She lowered her voice.
“I’ve been doing everything I can for your family.”
“I know.”
“I haven’t asked for anything in return.”
“I know.”
“And now your sister treats me like some kind of enemy.”
Daniel felt guilty.
He wanted to reassure her.
He wanted the tension to disappear.
“Melissa’s just protective,” he said.
Lauren looked at him.
“So am I.”
He nodded.
“Of course.”
“Then why does she get to question everything I do?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
Lauren touched his chest.
“You trust me, don’t you?”
The question arrived too quickly.
He looked into her eyes.
“Yeah.”
Her smile returned.
“Good.”
She leaned close.
“Because I don’t think I could handle losing that.”
Daniel embraced her.
He felt her arms tighten around him.
For a moment, the world seemed simple again.
Then he looked over her shoulder.
Evelyn was watching them.
Her expression held something Daniel couldn’t bear to identify.
It looked like grief.
Lauren stepped back.
“Come on. Marcus wants to do the toast.”
Daniel checked his watch.
“Already?”
“We’re behind schedule.”
He looked toward his mother.
“I need a minute with Mom first.”
Lauren’s smile faded.
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“Daniel, everyone’s waiting.”
“They can wait another minute.”
Her jaw tightened.
He saw it.
Then her expression softened.
“Fine.”
She moved away.
Daniel approached Evelyn’s table.
Melissa stood beside her chair.
Grace held a folded piece of notebook paper in both hands.
The paper looked worn.
Daniel wondered how long she’d been carrying it.
He crouched beside his daughter.
“Hey.”
Grace looked relieved.
“Daddy.”
“Grandma wants to talk?”
She nodded.
Daniel turned to Evelyn.
“I’m listening.”
His mother took a breath.
“I need to tell you something important.”
Daniel sat beside her.
“Okay.”
Evelyn looked toward Lauren.
His fiancée stood near the patio.
She appeared to be watching them.
Melissa noticed, too.
“Mom,” she said softly, “it’s all right.”
Evelyn swallowed.
Daniel leaned closer.
“What happened?”
His mother looked at him.
“You have to promise me something first.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t interrupt.”
Daniel almost smiled.
“Okay.”
“And don’t decide what to do until you’ve heard everything.”
He frowned.
“Mom, what’s going on?”
She touched his wrist.
“Promise.”
He nodded.
“I promise.”
Evelyn studied him.
Then she looked at Grace.
The little girl moved closer.
Daniel followed the exchange.
“Why does Grace seem to know what’s happening?”
His mother sighed.
“She helped me with something.”
“What something?”
Evelyn looked at the folded paper.
Daniel noticed.
Grace pressed it closer to her chest.
“Is that it?” he asked.
His daughter looked frightened.
Evelyn spoke gently.
“Not yet, sweetheart.”
Grace nodded.
Daniel felt increasingly uneasy.
“Mom, you’re scaring me.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me.”
She looked toward her handbag.
It hung from the back of her chair.
Her fingers moved slightly.
Before she reached it, Marcus tapped a spoon against his glass.
“Everybody! Can I steal your attention?”
The sound carried across the yard.
Guests turned toward the patio.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Not now.”
Marcus laughed.
“I promise I won’t embarrass Daniel too badly.”
A few people applauded.
Lauren waved Daniel forward.
He looked at Evelyn.
“Can this wait five minutes?”
His mother’s expression changed.
She lowered her hand.
“Of course.”
Melissa shook her head.
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“It’s the toast.”
“Your mother needs—”
“I’ll come right back.”
Evelyn touched Melissa’s wrist.
“Let him go.”
Daniel heard the resignation in her voice.
It bothered him.
He didn’t know what else to do.
He stood.
“Five minutes,” he promised.
His mother nodded.
“Five minutes.”
He crossed the lawn toward Marcus.
Lauren took his hand as soon as he arrived.
“There you are.”
Daniel tried to smile.
Marcus raised his glass.
“I’ve known this man long enough to know that marriage is going to be an adventure.”
The guests laughed.
Daniel smiled politely.
Marcus continued.
“Daniel’s loyal, hardworking, and stubborn enough to argue with a parking meter.”
More laughter followed.
Lauren leaned against Daniel.
Marcus lifted his glass.
“But the thing I’ve always admired is how much he loves his family.”
Daniel looked toward Grace.
She stood beside Evelyn.
Her face remained serious.
Marcus continued.
“Anyone who becomes part of that family needs a big heart.”
He turned toward Lauren.
“And everybody knows how much she’s helped them.”
Guests applauded.
Daniel felt Lauren squeeze his hand.
He should have felt proud.
Instead, he remembered Melissa’s warning.
Helping someone doesn’t mean you should never question them.
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