Daniel's voice came through the phone.
"Nan, don't let your mom and dad come down yet."
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes, tops. Just message the planners for me and tell them we're keeping to the schedule."
Every relative in the stairwell heard it.
Aunt Margaret, halfway down with one hand on the rail, pulled her foot back up a step.
The little niece gave the bag of wedding candy in her hand a small shake, but nobody reached to open it.
Someone slid the confetti poppers they'd just taken out back into the cardboard box and left them there.
My mother went paler.
My father's fingers tightened around the red umbrella.
I picked up my phone and typed only two lines.
【You don't need to report her business to me.】
【You'd better start thinking about how you're going to face my parents.】
Daniel didn't answer right away.
It was Nora who posted again in the group chat.
【I'm so sorry, really. This is all my fault for causing trouble at the last minute.】
【I can ride in one of the back cars, honestly. Don't make Mr. and Mrs. Fox wait so long.】
My father flipped his phone face-down on the table.
"Sitting pretty in that car, and she's the one talking like she has manners."
My mother said quietly, "Don't."
She turned her own phone face-down on top of the gift envelope.
A long while passed before she spoke again. "Tell the relatives not to come down yet."
I walked over, took the cash envelope for the in-laws out of her bag, and set it on the table.
"Mom, put this away for now."
She looked at the envelope for a long moment before she nodded.
"All right."
She tucked it back into her bag.
Halfway in, she pulled it out again.
One corner of the red paper had creased, and she bent her head and smoothed it for a long time.
The "double happiness" decal was still up on the wall, and the red carpet at the door hadn't been pulled away.
It was just that no one told me to touch up my makeup anymore, and no one said the groom was almost here.
10:18 was the auspicious time we'd set to leave.
Twenty-two minutes left.
In the wedding chat, the emcee posted first.
【The welcome screen's already up at the hotel. How long until the groom's car procession gets here?】
The photographer asked too.
【If we're not filming the departure ceremony, we need to reset our camera positions over here.】
Then the planning lead forwarded me a screenshot from the drivers' chat.
The lead car's location was still on the access road outside Nora's complex.
The wedding cars behind it were parked along the curb, no one sure whether they should follow.
Someone was asking:
【Are we changing the route or not? Are we still going to the bride's place?】
My mother sat on the sofa, still clutching that emptied envelope.
My father stood at the window, looking down.
A few relatives were still downstairs, the red umbrella leaning against the base of the wall, no one picking it up again.
Daniel's call finally came through again.
This time I answered.
On his end there was the sound of a car door closing, and Nora's voice, very soft.
"Maybe I really should just get out, before this holds everything up."
Daniel didn't let her.
He said my name first.
"Nan, I'm already on my way."
"Get the pickup back on schedule, would you? Everyone's waiting at the hotel. Don't let this blow up any worse."
I asked, "Who's in the car with you right now?"
He was quiet for a second.
"Nora's with me."
He added quickly, "Her heel broke and there was no one at home to drive her. I just made a quick detour. I didn't think it'd hold things up this long."
I looked at my mother.
She couldn't hear all of what was being said on the phone, but she kept her eyes on me, the empty envelope crushed tight in her hand.
I said, "While you were making your quick detour, my parents were downstairs waiting for you."
Daniel's voice softened.
"I know, that's why I'm rushing over now, isn't it?"
"Nan, there are so many people here today. Just give me a little face for now. Once the wedding's over, you can be as angry as you want."
