Two weeks before the scheduled ceremony, Vanessa requested what she called an emergency family meeting.<\/p>\n
She insisted that Christopher attend.<\/p>\n
She also wanted Eleanor and Richard Blake present.<\/p>\n
The meeting would take place in the Blakes' formal sitting room.<\/p>\n
I almost declined.<\/p>\n
The idea of discussing my money in a room full of people who considered my profession beneath them was unpleasant.<\/p>\n
But David advised that a clear conversation might prevent further disputes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAttend if you feel comfortable,\u201d he said. \u201cBring the written status of the agreements. Don't negotiate under pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n
I agreed.<\/p>\n
The Blake residence stood behind tall iron gates in one of Charleston's most desirable neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
I had visited twice before.<\/p>\n
Both times, Eleanor had greeted me warmly enough to make her later remarks particularly unpleasant.<\/p>\n
That afternoon, she received me in a pale gray dress and a pearl necklace.<\/p>\n
\u201cMargaret.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEleanor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard Blake rose from his chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was a quiet man with silver hair and a habit of pausing before speaking.<\/p>\n
I had always found him considerably easier to talk with than his wife.<\/p>\n
Christopher sat beside Vanessa.<\/p>\n
My daughter looked exhausted.<\/p>\n
Her hair was pulled into a severe knot.<\/p>\n
She did not greet me.<\/p>\n
On the coffee table lay a copy of the wedding budget.<\/p>\n
I recognized the document immediately.<\/p>\n
I had prepared it six months earlier.<\/p>\n
It did not include several expensive additions Vanessa had approved since then.<\/p>\n
Eleanor began.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe're all here because the current situation is becoming unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sat down.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen perhaps we should begin with the facts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa crossed her arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, please don't turn this into a business presentation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt's a financial discussion. A budget seems appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard cleared his throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree with Margaret.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor glanced at him.<\/p>\n
He did not look away.<\/p>\n
I opened my folder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe original budget was approximately ninety thousand dollars. Subsequent changes increased the commitments to almost one hundred eighty thousand.\u201d<\/p>\n
I passed Richard the summary.<\/p>\n
He examined it.<\/p>\n
His eyebrows rose.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't realize it had reached this amount.\u201d<\/p>\n
Christopher spoke quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeither did I.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa looked between them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt's not as though we ordered anything unreasonable.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cVanessa, the additional floral installation alone cost several thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Eleanor wanted the entrance to look beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor stiffened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suggested it might improve the photographs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa turned toward her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said the original arrangement looked cheap.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI did not use that word.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said it wasn't appropriate for the venue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard raised one hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough. Let's discuss the actual commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n
I explained which contracts were still active.<\/p>\n
The venue termination had been confirmed with a substantial deposit forfeiture but no obligation for the remaining rental balance.<\/p>\n
The optional champagne order had been canceled.<\/p>\n
Several floral upgrades were removed.<\/p>\n
The expanded entertainment package was terminated under its notice provisions.<\/p>\n
Catering had been reduced and partially terminated according to the contract's schedule.<\/p>\n
The photographer's contract remained an obligation for its earned and applicable cancellation charges.<\/p>\n
Other deposits would not be returned.<\/p>\n
I would pay what the agreements required.<\/p>\n
But I would not authorize further discretionary spending.<\/p>\n
Richard read the documents carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the remaining balances are no longer being paid by Margaret?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrect,\u201d I answered. \u201cThe services that have been canceled are no longer secured. Anyone wishing to arrange replacements will need to negotiate new agreements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa's face reddened.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou make it sound so simple.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn't simple.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou've ruined months of planning.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou removed me from the wedding before I reviewed the contracts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you would have made everything about yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n
The room became quiet.<\/p>\n
Christopher turned toward her.<\/p>\n
\u201cVanessa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother didn't ask to be the center of the wedding. She asked to attend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're taking her side?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI'm asking you to explain your decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at Eleanor.<\/p>\n
Eleanor adjusted her necklace.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps we should avoid assigning blame.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Eleanor. I think we should understand what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted everyone to be impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n
I watched her.<\/p>\n
There was something painfully young in the confession.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy what?\u201d Christopher asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy us.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked bewildered.<\/p>\n
\u201cVanessa, we're getting married. Isn't that enough?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don't understand what it's like.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it like?\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked toward her future mother-in-law.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour family has expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor began to speak.<\/p>\n
Christopher interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, did you tell Vanessa that Margaret would embarrass us?\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor's face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI expressed concerns about the presentation of the event.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's not an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at Richard.<\/p>\n
He remained silent.<\/p>\n
Finally, Eleanor said, \u201cI thought it might be awkward to have someone so directly associated with event service work seated prominently among our guests.\u201d<\/p>\n
The room fell silent.<\/p>\n
Richard stared at his wife.<\/p>\n
\u201cEleanor.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked defensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn't trying to insult anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were talking about the bride's mother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRichard, please.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I want to understand this.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked down at my hands.<\/p>\n
It was strangely uncomfortable hearing someone else defend me.<\/p>\n
I had spent years doing that for myself.<\/p>\n
Richard turned toward me.<\/p>\n
\u201cMargaret, I apologize. I had no idea this conversation had taken place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at Vanessa.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you agreed to exclude your mother?\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it would make things easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor whom?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
She did not answer.<\/p>\n
Richard leaned back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI've known Margaret professionally for years. Her company handled the opening reception for our firm's new offices. She did excellent work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn't the point.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is exactly the point,\u201d Richard replied. \u201cYou enjoyed the results of her work and then treated the person responsible as socially unsuitable.\u201d<\/p>\n
I could see Vanessa becoming more upset.<\/p>\n
But there was another issue that still needed attention.<\/p>\n
I turned toward Christopher.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou and Vanessa need to decide what wedding you can afford.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa looked horrified.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can't seriously expect us to start over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVanessa,\u201d Christopher said, \u201cwe're not financially prepared to spend one hundred eighty thousand dollars on a single day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother was paying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mother is no longer paying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe promised!\u201d<\/p>\n
Christopher looked at her steadily.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you told her not to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa opened her mouth.<\/p>\n
Then closed it.<\/p>\n
For once, there was no convenient explanation.<\/p>\n
Richard offered a practical suggestion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe church reservation is separate, isn't it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Christopher nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. That was arranged through our parish.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it's still available?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen perhaps the ceremony can proceed, with a smaller reception.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa looked as though someone had proposed holding the wedding in a parking lot.<\/p>\n
\u201cA smaller reception?\u201d<\/p>\n
Richard spoke gently.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have married happily with far less.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot in this family,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n
Eleanor looked wounded.<\/p>\n
But Richard did not respond.<\/p>\n
I gathered my papers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the financial position is clear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa stared at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that's it? You're leaving?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really don't care what happens?\u201d<\/p>\n
I paused.<\/p>\n
I wanted to tell her that I cared so much it was making me physically ill.<\/p>\n
I wanted to explain that I had spent the past week waking before dawn with my stomach in knots.<\/p>\n
But I had learned something during those days.<\/p>\n
My suffering would not persuade her to respect me.<\/p>\n
She needed to understand the decision without being asked to manage my pain.<\/p>\n
\u201cI care very much,\u201d I said. \u201cBut caring doesn't mean paying.\u201d<\/p>\n
I left the Blake residence before anyone could object.<\/p>\n
Outside, the afternoon air smelled of jasmine.<\/p>\n
I stood beside my car for a moment.<\/p>\n
Then I drove home.<\/p>\n
That evening, Christopher sent me a message.<\/p>\n
Thank you for meeting with us. I am sorry about what happened. Vanessa and I have serious things to discuss.<\/p>\n
I replied with a simple acknowledgment.<\/p>\n
At nine o'clock, another message arrived.<\/p>\n
This one was from Vanessa.<\/p>\n
You have made me look like a fool in front of everyone.<\/p>\n
I stared at it for a long time.<\/p>\n
Then I typed:<\/p>\n
I wish you had worried as much about how you treated me as you worry about how you look.<\/p>\n
I read the sentence twice.<\/p>\n
And sent it.<\/p>\n
END PART 5<\/p>\n