Chapter 4 - The Vows
The ceremony was not perfect.
That made it ours.
When Ethan began his vows, his voice broke on the second sentence.
“I promised myself I would never let the worst person in a room decide who mattered.”
He looked at the people lining the aisle.
“Then Maya taught me something harder.”
“She taught me that protecting someone without trusting them is another way of taking away their choice.”
His eyes returned to mine.
“I failed you in that.”
“I will spend our marriage doing better.”
I had written my vows two weeks earlier.
They suddenly sounded too polished.
So I folded the paper.
“Ethan, I’m still angry.”
A nervous laugh moved through the guests.
He smiled through tears.
“I know.”
“I love you.”
“I know that too.”
“Today, both things are true.”
I took a breath.
“I don’t need a perfect husband.”
“I need an honest partner.”
“I’m marrying you because I believe you can be that man.”
His hand tightened around mine.
The minister pronounced us husband and wife.
The chapel erupted.
Not everyone.
Dad remained seated.
Mom stood.
Caleb stood.
The thirty strangers cheered loudly enough to shake the old windows.
At the reception, Dad disappeared before dinner.
Mom stayed.
She sat alone at a table near the wall until I approached her.
“You stopped him.”
She looked surprised.
“Only after letting him hurt you.”
“That matters too.”
Mom stared at her untouched champagne.
“Your father believed Ethan was using you.”
“For what?”
“To get close to the company.”
“That’s almost funny.”
“I know.”
She looked toward Ethan, who was speaking with Marcus and Darius Green.
“Richard thinks everyone wants what he has.”
I sat across from her.
“Did you know about the charity?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
I waited.
Mom closed her eyes.
“I knew the accounts were confused.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your father asked me to sign reimbursement approvals.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Did you read them?”
“Not carefully.”
My stomach tightened.
“Mom.”
“He said the dealership had fronted expenses for the charity.”
“Did you believe him?”
“I wanted to.”
That was not the same thing.
She reached into her purse and removed a small key.
“Your father keeps original documents in a private box at Palmetto Trust Bank.”
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Because when the officers arrived, he whispered that he needed to reach the bank before Monday.”
I took the key.
“What’s in the box?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does Caleb?”
“No.”
Mom looked toward the chapel entrance.
“But Richard is terrified someone will open it.”
May you like
Across the reception hall, Ethan noticed the key in my hand.
Our wedding night had just become the beginning of another investigation.
