Chapter 3 - The Wedding of Appearances
The Whitmore wedding was designed less as a celebration than a declaration.
The yacht was nearly three hundred feet long, with five decks, two swimming pools and enough white roses to fill a ballroom. An American flag fluttered from the stern. Gold letters on the upper deck read Lillian and Daniel Forever.
A smaller sign beneath them said Just Married.
Guests arrived in chauffeured cars and posed for photographs beside the marina. Everything had been selected to suggest old wealth, even though much of it had been rented or financed.
Lillian descended the main staircase just before noon.
She looked beautiful in a fitted white gown with a long lace veil. Cameras flashed as she joined Daniel at the flower-covered altar.
Claire watched from the third row with Ellie sitting beside her.
When Lillian and Daniel exchanged vows, Ellie clapped too early.
Several guests laughed softly.
Claire kissed the top of her daughter’s head.
After the ceremony, the guests moved onto the upper decks for champagne and lunch. Claire stayed near Ellie, who had been assigned the important duty of scattering petals near the bridal table.
For almost an hour, everything remained peaceful.
Then Daniel noticed Claire.
He was standing near the railing with several business partners, showing them a silver watch.
Claire knew little about watches, but she heard him say it had cost more than eighty thousand dollars.
Daniel lifted his champagne glass when she approached.
“The mysterious sister.”
Claire gave a polite smile. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. Lillian said you might not come.”
“I wouldn’t miss her wedding.”
One of Daniel’s friends looked at Ellie.
“Is this your daughter?”
“Yes. This is Ellie.”
Ellie hid behind Claire’s dress.
Daniel smiled without warmth.
“Where’s the father?”
Claire’s shoulders stiffened.
“That’s private.”
Daniel exchanged a glance with his friends.
“Still private after three years?”
Claire ignored the question.
Lillian appeared beside him.
“There you are. Mother wants a family photograph.”
She looked at Claire’s dress.
“You could have asked me for something more appropriate.”
“It’s blue.”
“It’s cheap.”
Daniel’s friends suddenly became interested in the marina view.
Claire lowered her voice.
“I’m not discussing this in front of Ellie.”
Lillian rolled her eyes.
“You always use her as a shield.”
Ellie looked up at her mother.
“What does shield mean?”
“It means we’re going to find some cake,” Claire said.
She took Ellie’s hand and walked away.
Behind her, Lillian laughed.
It was not a happy sound.
During lunch, Claire and Ellie were seated at the far end of the family table. Margaret spent most of the meal introducing Lillian to wealthy guests while Richard discussed investments with Daniel’s father.
Claire noticed her father checking his phone repeatedly.
Each time he looked at it, his face became tighter.
“What’s wrong with Grandpa?” Ellie whispered.
“He’s busy.”
“Is he mad?”
Claire glanced toward Richard.
“He often looks mad when he’s thinking.”
Ellie considered this.
“I don’t want to think like Grandpa.”
Claire covered a laugh with her napkin.
Across the table, Margaret noticed.
“Is something amusing?”
“Nothing.”
Margaret looked at Ellie.
“Children should sit quietly during formal meals.”
Ellie lowered her eyes.
Claire placed a hand over her daughter’s.
“She’s doing fine.”
“She spilled water earlier.”
“She’s two.”
“Then perhaps a yacht wedding was not the place for her.”
The words were spoken softly, but everyone nearby heard them.
Claire stared at her mother.
“Lillian asked her to be part of the wedding.”
“Lillian was being generous.”
Lillian turned from her conversation.
“Mother, please. Not during lunch.”
For one foolish moment, Claire thought her sister was defending Ellie.
Then Lillian continued.
“People are watching.”
That was always the Whitmore family’s concern.
Not kindness.
May you like
Not truth.
Only who might be watching.
