Sometimes me.
That night, the pattern ended.
Brianna eventually returned wearing a fitted white cocktail dress borrowed from one of her bridesmaids.
If anything, she looked angrier than embarrassed.
Dinner resumed.
I assumed the rest of the evening would consist of dirty looks and uncomfortable silence.
I was wrong.
Brianna decided to escalate.
Halfway through dessert, she took the microphone.
“I want to say something about family.”
I immediately looked at Matthew.
He stared at his plate.
Brianna continued.
“When you get married, you discover which people truly want you to succeed.”
Several guests smiled politely.
“And sometimes you discover that certain relatives have trouble accepting that their children no longer need them.”
The smiles disappeared.
Claire shifted beside me.
Brianna looked directly in our direction.
“But Matthew and I are excited about our future.”
Then she smiled.
“Especially because we'll finally be moving into Fairmont House after the honeymoon.”
My hand stopped beside my coffee cup.
Fairmont House.
Our Virginia property.
I had agreed that Matthew and Brianna could stay there temporarily while they searched for a permanent home.
Nothing more.
Brianna continued.
“Matthew’s parents have been incredibly generous about making sure the house becomes part of our future.”
Claire turned toward me.
