That almost scared me more than anything else.
Nora lowered her voice.
“Annie, get over here. You need to see this yourself.”
“Nora, what happened?”
Her voice dropped. “Amelia needs you.”
That was enough.
I called the neighbor across the street, a woman my children had known since they were babies.
“Annie, get over here. You need to see this yourself.”
Ten minutes later, I reached the venue expecting to find Amelia sobbing.
Instead, half the family stood whispering near the ballroom doors.
***
Nora met me first.
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“Where is she?” I panted.
“Outside.”
I started toward the garden corridor.
Then Nora caught my arm.
Half the family stood whispering near the ballroom doors.
“Annie, you need to know what happened before you see her.”
I turned.
Nora glanced toward the ballroom.
“They had this little family ceremony after the vows.”
“What family ceremony?”
“A unity candle.”
I already hated the sound of that.
“Annie, you need to know what happened before you see her.”
Nora continued.
“Ryan and Lina had one candle. Amelia had another. She was supposed to light hers from theirs.”
“Why?”
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Nora gave me a tired look.
“Apparently it was supposed to symbolize their new family.”
Of course. They wanted Amelia beside them as proof of their new family.
“She was supposed to light hers from theirs.”
Nora said, “Lina told Amelia that lighting the candle meant they were all becoming one family.”
I looked at her.
“And?”
“Amelia asked where you go.”
I gripped the edge of the chair.
“What?”
Nora repeated it.
“She said, ‘If this makes us one family, where does Mom go?’“
“Amelia asked where you go.”
I clamped my hand over my mouth.
Nora continued before I could speak.
“Ryan crouched down and told her you weren’t going anywhere, that you’re still her mother.”
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