Chapter 6 - the flower girl disappears)
The wedding began with white roses.
Hundreds of them.
They lined the aisle, decorated the arch, covered reception tables, and climbed around the entrance of the outdoor venue.
Vanessa had chosen them because they photographed beautifully against the mountains.
Emily thought they looked like clouds.
At 1:15 p.m., she sat in a bridal preparation room while a stylist fixed her hair.
Laura entered carrying two bottles of water.
“You look beautiful.”
Emily smiled.
“Thanks.”
Laura noticed her hands trembling.
“Nervous?”
“A little.”
“About walking?”
Emily nodded.
Laura crouched.
“You know what happens if you trip?”
“What?”
“Everyone survives.”
Emily laughed.
Laura adjusted the floral clip in her curls.
“And if you drop the basket?”
“I pick it up.”
“Correct.”
“And if I forget where to stand?”
“You find me.”
Emily smiled again.
From across the room, Vanessa watched them through the mirror.
Laura caught her gaze.
Vanessa looked away.
At 1:40, Andrew arrived in his formal white military dress uniform.
Emily ran toward him.
His face lit up.
“There’s my girl.”
He knelt.
Emily hugged him.
For a few seconds the entire weight of the day disappeared.
Then Emily whispered.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Can we talk?”
Andrew immediately heard the seriousness.
“Of course.”
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Andrew, the photographer needs you.”
“One minute.”
“The ceremony starts soon.”
“One minute.”
Vanessa forced a smile and walked away.
Andrew looked at Emily.
“What is it?”
Emily opened her mouth.
She was going to tell him.
About the photograph.
The boarding school.
The threats.
Everything.
Then she looked over his shoulder.
Vanessa stood near the doorway.
Brooke was beside her.
Vanessa did not make a gesture.
She did not need to.
Emily remembered the sentence.
Your father wants a peaceful wedding.
Emily lost courage.
“I miss Mom.”
Andrew’s expression softened.
“Oh, Em.”
“She would have liked the flowers.”
“I think so too.”
“Do you miss her today?”
“Very much.”
Emily looked into his eyes.
“Even though you’re marrying Vanessa?”
Andrew took her hands.
“Loving someone new doesn’t erase someone we lost.”
Emily swallowed.
“Promise?”
“Always.”
Andrew kissed her forehead.
A coordinator called his name.
He stood.
“See you at the aisle.”
Emily watched him leave.
Laura returned seconds later.
“Did you tell him?”
Emily froze.
Laura’s question was gentle.
“Tell him what?”
“Whatever you were going to tell me last week.”
Emily looked down.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“He’s happy.”
Laura stared at her niece.
That answer frightened her more than any accusation could have.
Before she could respond, Vanessa appeared.
“Emily, we need the flower basket.”
Laura stood.
“I’ll take her.”
Vanessa smiled.
“I need her for a photograph.”
Laura hesitated.
Then a coordinator called her name from the other room.
Vanessa held out her hand.
“Come on.”
Emily did not take it.
She followed several steps behind.
Instead of going toward the photography area, Vanessa led her into the service hallway.
Emily stopped.
“Where are we going?”
“The backup flowers are in here.”
She opened the laundry room.
Emily looked inside.
Washing machines.
Shelves.
Towels.
No flowers.
“I don’t see them.”
“Check beside the machine.”
Emily stepped inside.
Vanessa remained at the door.
Emily turned.
“Where?”
Vanessa’s face changed.
The public smile vanished.
“You should have listened.”
Emily’s stomach dropped.
“What?”
“You’re not walking down that aisle.”
Emily rushed toward the door.
Vanessa blocked it.
“Dad said I am.”
“Your father is busy.”
“Move.”
Vanessa grabbed the flower basket from Emily’s hand.
Emily pulled back.
Flowers spilled across the floor.
“Stop.”
Vanessa shoved the basket aside.
“You have spent fourteen months making everything about you.”
Emily began crying.
“I didn’t.”
“Today is mine.”
“Dad will look for me.”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
“By the time he does, the ceremony will already have started.”
She stepped out.
Emily lunged forward.
The door slammed.
A lock clicked from the hallway side.
Emily grabbed the handle.
“Vanessa.”
No answer.
She pulled harder.
“Vanessa.”
Footsteps moved away.
Emily began pounding.
“Let me out.”
No one heard her.
Music from the outdoor ceremony covered the sound.
In the hallway, Vanessa walked twenty feet before finding Brooke.
Brooke looked at her.
“You actually did it?”
Vanessa’s breathing was fast.
“She forced me.”
“Nine-year-olds don’t force adults to lock doors.”
Vanessa glared at her.
“Do you want to lecture me now?”
Brooke looked toward the laundry room.
“What happens when Andrew asks where she is?”
“I’ll say she panicked.”
“And if they find her?”
“Then they find her.”
Brooke stared at Vanessa.
“You said you wanted an incident, not a kidnapping.”
“It’s a laundry room.”
“It’s locked.”
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Then leave.”
Brooke did not.
Instead, she whispered.
“Did locking her up finally work?”
Vanessa pulled out her phone.
“I don’t know.”
A coordinator approached.
“Vanessa, we need you.”
Vanessa placed the phone on a chair while adjusting her veil.
“I’ll be right there.”
She walked away.
Brooke remained.
The phone screen was unlocked.
A message thread was open.
Brooke stared at it.
Then heard someone behind her.
Laura.
“Where’s Emily?”
Brooke’s face changed.
“I thought she was with you.”
Laura looked toward the ceremony.
“She was with Vanessa.”
Brooke said nothing.
Laura noticed the phone.
A message notification appeared.
It was from Brooke’s own number.
Did locking her up finally work?
Laura looked at Brooke.
Then at the message.
Brooke’s face drained of color.
Laura picked up the phone.
“Where is my niece?”
Brooke backed away.
“I didn’t lock her anywhere.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
At the other end of the venue, Andrew stood near the aisle entrance.
The music had started.
He looked for Emily.
No flower girl.
He checked his watch.
A coordinator smiled nervously.
“She’s probably coming.”
Andrew scanned the guests.
Then he saw Laura running toward him.
His sister never ran in heels.
Andrew knew immediately something was wrong.
“Emily’s missing.”
Everything inside him went cold.
The wedding music continued playing.
May you like
Andrew turned away from the aisle.
And for the first time that day, Vanessa realized she had made a mistake she could no longer hide.
