Chapter 11 - Ninety-Six Guests
I called Rachel.
Then Naomi.
Then the buyer.
I expected Hannah Bennett to be furious.
Instead, she laughed.
“Your mother-in-law is throwing a ninety-six-person baby shower in a house under contract?”
“Yes.”
“That’s almost impressive.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Is there risk to the property?”
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
Rachel advised me not to confront Diane alone.
Eric said he would cancel it.
I told him I wanted proof.
Twenty minutes later, he sent screenshots.
MOM: You are not canceling your sister’s shower because Claire is having a tantrum.
ERIC: It’s Claire’s property and it’s under contract.
MOM: Stop talking like her lawyer.
ERIC: I’m serious. No party.
MOM: People already have invitations.
ERIC: Then uninvite them.
For once, he had drawn a line.
Diane stepped right over it.
Saturday morning, at 9:00, a catering van pulled into the driveway.
Then a rental truck.
Then a florist.
Eric called me.
“She’s doing it.”
I was already in Rachel’s car.
When we arrived, two workers were carrying folding tables toward the backyard.
Diane stood on the porch wearing a pale blue dress.
Her face changed when she saw us.
“You.”
“Cancel everything.”
“This is a private family event.”
Rachel stepped beside me.
“Ms. Mercer, I’m Claire Parker’s attorney.”
Diane rolled her eyes.
“I don’t care who you are.”
“You should.”
Eric came outside.
“Mom, I told you no.”
Diane turned on him.
“And I told you to grow a spine.”
Something changed in his face.
“Maybe that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
She froze.
Madison appeared in the doorway.
“Mom.”
“What?”
“Stop.”
Diane looked around like everyone had betrayed her at once.
“This family is unbelievable.”
I walked toward the caterer.
“I’m the property owner. The event is canceled.”
He immediately nodded.
“No problem.”
Diane rushed forward.
“I paid a deposit!”
“That’s between you and them.”
“You’re humiliating me!”
I turned.
“No, Diane. You invited nearly a hundred people to someone else’s property after being told no.”
Cars had started arriving.
Relatives stepped out wearing dresses and carrying gifts.
Diane’s face went white.
An aunt approached.
“What’s happening?”
Before Diane could answer, Madison spoke.
“The shower is canceled.”
People stared.
“Why?”
Madison looked at her mother.
Then at me.
“Because Mom planned it in a house she doesn’t own.”
The silence was brutal.
Diane whispered, “How dare you.”
Madison’s chin trembled.
“I’m tired.”
“What?”
“I am eight months pregnant and somehow I’m less exhausted by pregnancy than I am by you fighting everybody.”
Diane stared at her daughter.
“You ungrateful little—”
Eric stepped between them.
“Stop.”
Diane looked at him.
Then she looked at me.
Something ugly hardened in her eyes.
“You did this.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You finally did this to yourself.”
She grabbed her purse.
Then she marched toward her car.
Before getting inside, she turned toward Eric.
“If you choose her over your family, don’t call me when she leaves you.”
Eric’s face collapsed.
I said nothing.
May you like
Because she didn’t know yet.
I had already left him.
