He Gave My Wedding Away

Chapter 2

Simon set his empty glass down. I gave him a small nod, then turned toward the table where my older relatives were sitting. I didn't look back at Colin. The long train of my gown slowed me down as I crossed the thick carpet.

My uncle saw me approaching alone and stood with a smile.

"Where's the groom? Why are you on your own?"

I raised my glass and forced a smile that betrayed nothing.

"The relatives at the next table won't let him get away, so I thought I'd come and toast you all first."

My uncle hesitated, then hurried to smooth things over.

"Of course. The hotel's packed today. It's no wonder he's busy."

I raised my glass to each of my relatives, thanking them mechanically for their good wishes. After I'd made my way around two tables, my mother-in-law came over and took my hand.

"Natalie, where's the spare house key for your new home?" she asked in a low, anxious voice. "In our family, I'm supposed to keep it overnight and give it to you tomorrow morning."

I nodded and turned to my bridesmaid behind me. She quickly handed me a velvet pouch. Colin had brought it specifically to hold the key when he came to pick me up that morning.

I loosened the drawstring and tipped the contents into my palm. Something landed with a little click. It wasn't the brass-colored key to our front door. It was a black scooter key.

My bridesmaid gasped. I stared at the key, remembering that morning.

The wedding cars had stopped outside the apartment complex when Vanessa's younger cousin ran over and knocked on the window. Something was wrong with Vanessa's veil, she said, and she urgently needed the key to borrow my spare veil. Without a second thought, Colin had handed her the red envelope he was holding.

At the time, I reminded him that it was the spare key, and that the mother-in-law would need it later.

I'd reminded him that it contained the spare house key and that his mother would need it later. He'd waved me off, saying he'd get it straight back and it wouldn't hold anything up. Clearly, he hadn't given it another thought.

"What... what's going on?"

My mother-in-law stared at the scooter key in my hand, her expression darkening.

"Where's Colin? What's he done with the key?"

Just then, Colin returned with the empty custom-made toasting glass. His cheeks were flushed, and he reeked of alcohol.

"What's wrong, Mom?"

He came up beside me and tried to slip an arm around my shoulders as though nothing had happened. I stepped aside, avoiding his hand.

His mother held up the scooter key and demanded an explanation. Colin glanced at it. The tension left his face, and he sounded perfectly unconcerned.

"It's just a key. Vanessa's cousin will bring it back when she's done."

He reached for the key in his mother's hand.

"You can give it to her later. It won't make any difference. Stop making such a fuss."

His mother tried to say more, but he'd already turned away impatiently.

Without a word, I opened my purse and took out the keys I used every day. A building access card and an elevator access card hung from the ring beside my house key.

As Colin watched, I worked the two cards off the ring, one at a time. The metal jingled softly. Then I handed the key, now stripped of its access cards, to my mother-in-law.

"Mom, you can keep this one for now."

Colin frowned again as he watched me.

"Why did you take the access cards off?"

I tucked the cards into my purse without answering.

A burst of startled cries came from the neighboring tables. Half of Vanessa's floral backdrop had collapsed. Pink roses scattered across the floor, and the steel framework crashed onto the red carpet. The hotel manager hurried over, sweat beading on his forehead.

Colin immediately turned and strode toward him. He pointed at the perfectly intact champagne-colored floral arch on our side of the hall.

"Move this over there. They need it now."

The manager froze and looked at me. When he didn't move, Colin reached out and started pushing the base of the arch himself.

"We're nearly done here anyway. Let them borrow it for a group photo."

He turned toward me, utterly certain I wouldn't object.

"Don't be so petty. We're all friends."

I watched the champagne-colored roses being pulled away, leaving the entrance to our wedding stage bare. I didn't lose my temper or try to stop him. I turned and called over the emcee standing nearby.

"There's no need to wait for the evening reception."

I met his startled gaze, my voice perfectly level.

"Just announce that the celebration is over."