MATTEO
My mother excused herself and followed me to the side of the pavilion, away from the other guests.
“Matteo—”
“You sat me next to Sheila.” My voice was low, controlled, but the fury underneath was unmistakable. “After I explicitly told you years ago that I wanted nothing to do with her. You invited her to this wedding and sat me next to her.”
“She’s an old family friend. I thought—”
“You thought wrong.”
My mother’s expression shifted from defensive to one of confusion. “Matteo, I don’t understand. You two dated for nearly two years. You were serious. I thought you were going to propose. And then suddenly it was over, and you wouldn’t even speak her name.”
“And you never thought to respect that?”
“Respect what? A grudge?” Her voice rose slightly before she caught herself and
