Not a single word left his mouth.
His jaw shifted. Something passed behind his eyes, quiet and sharp, and then he turned on his heel and walked right back out of the room.
Samuel walked farther inside.
I stared after him, my hand still on Hazel’s shoulder, my mind racing.
My hands shook as I knelt beside my daughter in the little side room off the bridal suite. The oversized navy jacket hung from her small shoulders like a punishment. I wanted to march straight into that ceremony and tear the whole thing apart.
“Sweetheart, we can go home,” I whispered, smoothing her hair. “You don’t have to stay.”
Hazel shook her head hard.
I knelt beside my daughter.
“No, Mom! Daddy will be sad if I leave!”
“Hazel, this isn’t right. What Vanessa did to you isn’t right.”
“I know.” Her voice was so small. “But I’m still gonna be brave.”
