4.
My mother froze, as if she hadn't caught it, and leaned in, turning one ear toward me.
“What did you say?”
“I said, I agree.”
I stepped forward, the gown hissing across the red carpet, my crystal heels clicking sharp against the floor.
“From today, you're not my mother.”
“I have no duty left to indulge you, and no obligation to raise your precious niece for you either.”
It finally registered. Her whole face twisted out of shape, flushing red from her forehead down to the base of her neck.
“You little slut! You've gone completely out of line!”
She swung her right hand up, the slap cutting the air, putting everything she had into it, aiming straight for my cheek.
The way she came at me, she meant to knock me into the dirt.
I raised my hand and clamped down hard on her wrist.
She yanked, and couldn't break free. All those years at the gym hadn't been for nothing.
“From today, you're not my mother.”
“And you have no right to hit me.”
I flung her hand off, hard enough that she stumbled and nearly landed flat on the floor.
“Security, they are not guests I invited. Get all of these people out.”
I took a step back, my voice steady, not even the last note shaking.
“And if they still won't leave, then we do it properly and call the police. People trespassing on a private venue, disrupting a wedding.”
“And these ones——”
I glanced over at Barbara and the handful of bridesmaids she'd brought, some of them still holding the streamers and spray cans they'd come to make a scene with.
“Gathering to cause trouble, planning to destroy someone else's property. Deal with them too.”
My mother shrieked, her hair coming loose: “You wouldn't dare! I'm your mother! The cops can't arrest me!”
Ten minutes later, sirens rose from far off and closed in, red and blue lights flashing outside the hotel.
When the officers pushed through the doors, my mother was still throwing her fit, planted on the floor slapping her own thighs, until two of them hooked her under the arms and hauled her up.
“What are you doing! What are you doing! I'm the bride's mother!”
Barbara went white and tried to run, but security cut her off. The gown was too elaborate; even turning around was a struggle, and she got caught by the collar like a flower-wrapped dumpling.
“Take them out.”
The lead officer swept a look over the scene, his brow drawn tight.
“Stop! All of you, stop!”
“Arlene! I am your mother! You think I won't cut you off for good after this!”
Right up to the last, she was still threatening me, still sure I'd cry and beg her the way I had all those years ago, wearing myself out trying to please her, all for a scrap of the love a mother was supposed to give.
I turned away, didn't spare them another glance, and left them nothing but my back.
At the end of the carpet the flower arch still stood, the champagne tower catching the light in bright glints.
I drew a deep breath and slowly let out the stale, clotted air that had sat in my chest for more than twenty years.
Elwin took my hand and said quietly: “It's over. I'm here.”
I nodded, my fingers closing around his.
“The wedding continues.”
The music started again, and the joy and happiness flowed back into the room.
I took Elwin's arm and walked, step by step, back toward the center of the stage.
This time there was no farce, no screaming, no forever-partial woman and her greedy niece.
Only flowers, applause, and a path that was mine.
“I do.”
When Elwin slid the ring onto my finger, his hand was warm and sure.
Once the rings were exchanged, the program called for the toasts, but instead I took the microphone the emcee handed over and took two gold-embossed plane tickets from my bridesmaid.
I held up those two thin slips of paper for every guest below.
“Everyone.”
“Today isn't only Elwin's and my wedding. There's one more thing I want to announce, properly.”
I lifted my voice, clear and calm.
Behind me the big screen lit up, projecting the visas we'd already arranged and the deed to a house abroad.
“From today, Elwin and I are going to travel the world.”
“It's something we promised each other back in college, and now we can finally make it happen.”
“Wish us well!”
The guests broke into an uproar, then a thunder of applause.
Someone whistled, someone shouted “congratulations on your new life”, someone stood and clapped as hard as they could.
Elwin looked at me, his eyes going a little red, and smiling, he pulled me into his arms.
“Will you regret choosing to leave?”
He asked it against my ear.
“No.”
I shook my head, smiling, even as the tears spilled over.
“What I'm choosing is happiness, and freedom.”
