Chapter 5 - The Reunion at Hale Point
The reunion began at eleven in the morning.
Cars filled the gravel parking area. Relatives carried coolers, folding chairs and covered dishes toward the pavilion.
Eleanor arrived wearing pink and immediately began issuing orders.
“The flowers should be on the larger tables.”
“Move the drinks away from the sun.”
“Claire, check the food.”
She never thanked me.
Madison arrived an hour later, dressed as though she were hosting a professional event.
She had printed Blue Ridge Celebrations banners and placed them near the pavilion entrance.
I removed them.
She watched me fold the first banner.
“What are you doing?”
“This is a private family reunion, not a business promotion.”
“Hale Point is part of my business.”
“No, Madison. It is not.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“My father said I could advertise.”
“Your father does not own this property.”
For one second, uncertainty crossed her face.
Then she laughed.
“You always say things like that when you want attention.”
Richard appeared before I could respond.
“What is happening?”
“Claire is ruining the display,” Madison said.
I looked at him.
“This property is not part of her company. Tell her.”
He glanced toward the arriving relatives.
“Can we not do this today?”
There it was.
The familiar escape.
Not no.
Not she is wrong.
Only not today.
Madison smiled because she understood she had won.
I carried the banners into the storage room.
The rest of the afternoon unfolded like a performance.
Madison welcomed guests and accepted praise for organizing the event.
Eleanor told relatives that Madison would soon expand Hale Point into the finest wedding venue on Lake Anna.
Richard stood beside them, smiling.
No one mentioned me.
I watched from the edge of the pavilion while people congratulated them for plans funded by a loan obtained with my forged signature.
At one point, Richard’s cousin Henry approached me.
“Madison says the family is building a new ballroom.”
“That is what she says.”
“Richard must be doing well.”
“He must be.”
Henry studied my face.
“Are you all right?”
Before I could answer, Eleanor called me from across the pavilion.
“Claire, we need more ice.”
I left to get it.
By two o’clock, nearly everyone had eaten except me.
I had spent the lunch replacing serving trays, helping elderly relatives find seats and resolving an argument over parking.
When I finally approached the main table, Madison blocked the empty chair beside Richard.
“That seat is for Aunt Rebecca.”
“Aunt Rebecca left twenty minutes ago.”
Madison picked up a paper plate from the supply table.
The plate already held scraps.
She thrust it toward me.
“The staff eats in the kitchen.”
Several younger cousins laughed automatically.
Richard heard her.
I knew he heard her because his shoulders stiffened.
He could have ended it with one sentence.
That is my wife.
Instead, he stared at his plate.
I waited.
Three seconds.
Five.
Ten.
Eleanor pointed at me.
“Do not stand there looking offended. Madison has worked hard today.”
I almost admired the cruelty of that statement.
Madison had welcomed guests.
I had done everything else.
“Apologize to her,” Eleanor demanded.
“For what?”
“For embarrassing her.”
Madison crossed her arms.
“You always have to remind everyone how important you think you are.”
I turned to Richard.
“Do you agree?”
He sighed.
That sigh answered before he spoke.
“Claire, please do not make this bigger than it needs to be.”
At that moment, something inside me became completely still.
The last remaining hope disappeared.
May you like
I took the paper plate from Madison.
And beneath Richard’s place setting, the blue envelope waited.
