Three Buses And A Father’s Pride, All Pushed To The Spare Table Chapter 04

Three Buses And A Father’s Pride, All Pushed To The Spare Table Chapter 04

The ceremony started. 　　Lights hit the stage.

Caleb stood in the center, suit sharp, voice steady. He thanked the Vances first.

William and Patricia Vance sat in the middle of the head table, smiling and nodding.

The guests clapped, measured and respectful.

Then he looked at Chloe’s family. “I also want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore especially,” he said.

“For years, they’ve taken care of me like family.”

The camera cut straight to the head table.

Chloe’s parents sat in the most visible seats, smiling politely and comfortably.

Chloe lowered her head slightly, her eyes red.

Someone in the crowd called out, 　　“So are they the bride’s family or the groom’s?”

Caleb didn’t deny it. 　　He even smiled a little.

My father, sitting by the kitchen door, heard it. His fingers dug into his knees.

A waiter pushed a cart past him from behind.

Afraid he was in the way, my father scooted his chair forward fast.

The chair leg scraped the floor with an ugly screech.

A few people turned to look at him.

He dropped his head, like he’d done something wrong.

The host kept going, smiling. 　　“Looks like Mr. Vance is very close to the Whitmores.”

“And today, a dear longtime friend who’s been with Mr. Vance through so many years is also here.”

The light swept to Chloe.

Caleb looked at her, his voice softening.

“Thank you, Chloe. 　　Thank you for always being there.”

More applause.

I stood in the waiting area, my fingers tightening slowly.

The makeup artist adjusted my veil and whispered, “Smile when you go out, Mrs. Vance. The camera will zoom in.”

I didn’t smile.

I looked past the crowd at my father.

He was clapping too. Very quietly.

After two claps, he realized no one was looking at him. 　　His hands fell back to his knees.

The father-of-the-bride corsage was crushed in his palm, wrinkled into a ball.

Leo stood behind the family seating, his eyes red.

He was supposed to be standing at the side of the stage as a groomsman.

But Dylan Miller was in that spot now.

Dylan wore Leo’s boutonniere on his chest, smiling for the camera.

The host turned to the next page.

“Now, please welcome the bride. She is about to begin the next chapter of her life, surrounded by the people who mean the most to her.”

The people who mean the most to her.

I heard those words and felt how ridiculous they were.

My father sat by the kitchen door. 　　My brother had been pushed to the back of the crowd.

The chest my father brought for me was thrown next to storage junk, the latch already broken.

And the people Caleb called family sat at the head table, bathed in light, surrounded by applause, thanked like royalty.

I walked down the aisle one step at a time.

Caleb reached his hand out to me. His eyes carried a warning and certainty at the same time.

Like he was saying, don’t. You’ve come this far. You can’t back out now.

I stopped in front of him. I didn’t take his hand.

Caleb dropped his voice. “Clara, don’t make a scene. Just work with me.”

“Whatever it is, we’ll handle it after the ceremony.”

I didn’t answer. I turned and looked back at the seats.

My father was trying to sit up straight, like he could make himself look less out of place.

But the kitchen door was right behind him.

Waiters kept coming through.

A splash of gravy hit his pant leg. He wiped at it without thinking.

Then he stopped, afraid someone had seen.

Caleb followed my gaze. His brow creased.

He muttered, “Your dad’s sitting there just fine, isn’t he?”

That was the last knife.

I looked at him and understood. Caleb didn’t not know how much my father had been humiliated.

He just didn’t think any of it mattered.

The host handed me the microphone and smiled. 　　“Mrs. Vance, would you like to say a few words?”

Patricia Vance was watching me from the head table.

Chloe was looking at me with tearful eyes.

My father was looking at me too—no anger, just panic.

He was afraid I’d do something reckless. Afraid I’d make my life harder later.

Afraid he’d be the reason his daughter got hurt again.

I raised my hand. Everyone thought I was reaching for the mic.

Instead, I took off my veil first. The white fabric slipped from my hair and fell into my grip.

The whole room went silent.

Caleb’s face changed completely.

“Clara.”

I took the microphone. My voice was quiet, but it carried through the entire ballroom.

“Everyone, I’m sorry. 　　The wedding’s off.”