“These strong-smelling things, just don't bring them to the island.”
“The wedding's going for an understated, upscale look. These don't really fit.”
My mother's hand froze in midair.
The smile on her face faded, bit by bit, then she forced it back up just as fast.
“Oh. Right.”
“It's me, I don't know any better.”
She hurriedly pulled the bag back and hid it behind her.
“Then I won't bring them. I don't want to be any trouble for you.”
My throat felt stuffed with a wad of cotton, aching too much to speak.
On the other side, Harry's mother coughed softly, twice.
Carol went over at once and steadied her.
“Have a seat first, ma'am.”
“Did you not eat anything this morning?”
She turned and sent her assistant to buy some hot porridge, then pushed the woman's luggage aside with her own hands.
Gentle, patient, attentive.
A completely different person from the one who'd just been so cold to my parents.
Harry's aunt let out a quiet little laugh just then.
“Old folks who've never flown before, of course they get nervous.”
“And bringing all these tacky things, it really isn't right for an island wedding.”
My mother heard it.
She gripped the bag in her hands, and lowered her head even further.
“It's us, we don't know how things are done. We've made a mess for everyone.”
Carol acted as if she hadn't caught the shame in my mother's words, only glancing at the car parked outside.
“Harry's got a lot of relatives.”
“Why don't your parents ride in the van behind us.”
I looked outside.
The car behind us had its back seats piled high with suitcases.
One look and you could tell it was the staff vehicle.
My voice went cold.
“My father's back is bad. You're putting him in the cargo van?”
Carol's brows knitted together.
“Tom, do you have to make it sound so ugly?”
“There's just a little more luggage in that car.”
“We'll be on the island tomorrow. Do you really have to nitpick about this right now?”
I looked at her.
And in that moment, I suddenly understood.
Carol hadn't forgotten to respect my parents.
She had simply never thought they were worth respecting.
My mother quickly grabbed my hand.
“Tommy, don't say any more.”
“Your dad and I can sit anywhere. The wedding's what matters.”
The wedding's what matters.
Even now, they were still afraid of holding up my wedding.
But looking at my father's pale face, looking at my mother clutching that bag of crushed peanut brittle, the last bit of hope in my heart finally went out, little by little.
I didn't argue anymore.
I just helped my parents to the hotel beside the airport.
My father apologized the whole way.
“Tommy, I'm really fine.”
“Did we just make things hard for your bride back there?”
My mother was clutching that bag of broken peanut brittle too, and said quietly:
“Maybe we just shouldn't bring these things.”
“Don't let the in-laws laugh at you.”
Watching how flustered they looked, the bridge of my nose stung hard.
They hadn't done a single thing wrong.
Yet they looked like two people who'd committed some offense.
Once we were in the room, I told them to rest first.
Then I took out my phone and canceled the flights to the island.
I bought three new tickets to Northgate City.
After buying the tickets, I sent the wedding planner a message.
“The wedding's off.”
They called back quickly, their tone startled.
“Mr. Gilbert, the wedding's tomorrow. Are you sure?”
I looked at my parents, already asleep on the bed from exhaustion, and said softly “I'm sure.”
At ten that night, Carol came back.
When she pushed the door open, her face wasn't looking good.
Probably because the unpleasantness at the airport today had thrown off Harry's whole family.
She stood in the doorway, looking at me.
“Tom, tomorrow we all fly together.”
