Chapter 14 - SIX DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING
Our photographer, Daniel Ruiz, still had the email.
Martha had contacted him using a private address.
She introduced herself as the groom’s mother.
She asked whether she could have final approval over photographs involving her.
Daniel politely explained that Nick and I were the clients.
Then Martha wrote:
THERE MAY BE A PRIVATE FAMILY MOMENT DURING THE RECEPTION.
I WOULD PREFER THAT IT NOT BE PHOTOGRAPHED.
Daniel responded:
PLEASE DISCUSS THIS WITH NICK AND EMILY.
Martha never replied.
But she called him two days later.
Daniel remembered the conversation.
“She asked where I would be during the first dance.”
I stared at him.
“What did you tell her?”
“That I’d be near the dance floor.”
“Did she ask anything else?”
“She asked whether my second photographer would be there.”
Nick frowned.
“She was checking camera positions.”
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“That was my impression later.”
Then he opened his laptop.
“I also have something you may want.”
He pulled up the raw wedding footage.
I had avoided watching the exact moment.
Now I forced myself.
Nick and I were dancing.
I was smiling.
Martha appeared in the background.
She wasn’t carrying scissors yet.
She walked toward the catering station.
Then disappeared through a side door.
Thirty seconds later, she returned.
The scissors were in her hand.
She stood behind a group of guests for nearly a minute.
Watching us.
Waiting.
My skin went cold.
This wasn’t a spontaneous emotional outburst.
She waited until I turned.
Then she approached.
Snip.
I flinched even though I knew it was coming.
Daniel paused the video.
Nick stared at the screen.
“She planned it.”
“Yes.”
I looked closer.
“Go back.”
Daniel rewound.
“There.”
I pointed.
Before Martha moved toward us, another woman touched her arm.
Nick leaned forward.
“Who is that?”
The woman’s face was partially hidden.
Daniel switched camera angles.
The second photographer had captured her.
Nick froze.
“Aunt Linda?”
I stared.
It was Linda.
She was speaking to Martha seconds before my hair was cut.
Nick immediately called her.
Linda answered.
He didn’t waste time.
“Were you with Mom right before she cut Emily’s hair?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
Linda inhaled slowly.
“She told me she was going to teach Emily a lesson.”
My mouth went dry.
“And you didn’t stop her?”
“I tried.”
Linda’s voice cracked.
“I thought she was talking about making a speech.”
Nick’s face hardened.
“What happened next?”
“I saw the scissors.”
“And?”
“I told her not to do anything stupid.”
“But she did.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I was ashamed.”
Nick closed his eyes.
Linda continued.
“There’s something else.”
Of course there was.
“What?”
“She showed me a note before the reception.”
“What note?”
“She said she had written something for Emily.”
I looked at Nick.
“What did it say?”
Linda hesitated.
“I only saw the first line.”
“What was it?”
Linda repeated it.
BY TOMORROW, YOU’LL UNDERSTAND WHY YOU NEVER BELONGED IN THIS FAMILY.
The room went silent.
May you like
A cut braid was humiliation.
But that note sounded like Martha had planned something after the wedding too.
