Chapter 9 - Cordelia’s first explanation Cordelia requested a family meeting.
We refused to bring Bram.
She objected.
That told me something.
Eventually we met at Helena’s house.
Helena.
Her new husband Miles.
Alaric.
Me.
Sabine joined by video because she had already returned home.
Cordelia arrived fifteen minutes late.
Pearls.
Neutral suit.
No apology.
She began:
“I am horrified by what this family has turned a misunderstanding into.”
Alaric asked:
“What did you misunderstand?”
“The logistics.”
“You moved Bram.”
“I moved his seat.”
“Without asking his parents.”
“It was a wedding seating chart.”
“You told him to sit where nobody could see him.”
“I never said nobody.”
Bram’s exact sentence differed:
Grandma said I have to sit behind the tent so nobody sees me.
Cordelia claimed she said:
You’ll be out of the photographer’s way until family portraits are finished.
Not better.
She continued:
“The chair obstructed the formal grouping.”
Helena said:
“No, it didn’t.”
“You weren’t managing photography.”
“It was my wedding.”
Cordelia’s lips tightened.
“I was trying to give you beautiful photographs.”
Helena’s voice cracked.
“You thought my nephew made them less beautiful.”
Cordelia said:
“That is not what I said.”
May you like
Nobody answered.
Because sometimes what a person refuses to say directly is already standing in the room.
