The Wedding That Never Began
Chapter 02 - The Wedding That Never Began
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Guests stood frozen beneath the white floral arches. Phones began appearing in hands. Vanessa looked from her father to Caleb, waiting for someone to laugh and explain that this was some terrible misunderstanding.
Nobody did.
“Dad?”
Richard adjusted his cufflinks.
It was something Caleb had seen him do during difficult business negotiations.
That tiny gesture told Caleb everything.
“You know her,” Caleb said.
Richard sighed.
“Caleb, this is not the place.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Vanessa stepped between them.
“Dad, who is Mara Bennett?”
Richard's eyes hardened.
“A woman from Caleb's past.”
Caleb grabbed the bundle tighter.
“A woman you paid to leave me?”
Richard glanced at the gathering crowd.
“You have no idea what happened nine years ago.”
“Then tell me.”
“I was protecting you.”
The words almost made Caleb laugh.
From what?
From the woman he had loved?
From the life he had wanted?
The little boy tugged Caleb's sleeve.
“Please.”
Caleb looked down.
The child's face had lost what little color it had.
“My mom needs me.”
Caleb crouched.
“Where is she?”
“County General.”
Vanessa's bouquet slipped slightly in her hand.
Caleb stared at the church doors.
Everything he had planned was inside.
His future wife.
Two hundred guests.
Business partners.
A reception that had cost more than some families earned in five years.
Then he looked at the boy.
“Why is Mara in the hospital?”
The child's answer came quietly.
“She collapsed at work yesterday.”
Caleb stood.
Vanessa already knew what he was going to do.
“You're leaving?”
“I need answers.”
“Today?”
Caleb looked at the money in his hand.
“Especially today.”
Richard stepped forward.
“You walk away from this wedding, Caleb, and you may destroy everything we've built.”
Caleb met his eyes.
“For the first time, Richard, I think that's exactly what I'm afraid you built.”
He removed the boutonnière from his jacket and placed it on the stone railing.
Then he walked down the steps beside the boy.
Behind him, Vanessa whispered one question to her father.
May you like
“What did you do?”
And for the first time in her life, her father had no answer ready.
