Chapter4

Three days before the wedding, I went to the bridal shop to pick up the veil I'd had made.

The owner flipped through her orders for a long time. Then she gave me an uncomfortable look.

"Claire, your mom came in the day before yesterday. She canceled the order, and I refunded her the deposit."

I was shaking. I had drawn that pattern myself, line by line.

I'd told myself that even if the dress wasn't mine, at least the veil would be.

Now even that one small thing was gone.

When I got home, Brooke's bridal shower was in full swing in the backyard.

She was sitting in a circle of aunts and friends. On her wrist, next to Grandma's gold bracelet, there was something new: a glittering diamond tennis bracelet.

Aunt Linda took her hand and gushed.

"Diamonds that size? That must have cost a fortune."

Mom glowed.

"It's from that old jewelry store downtown. Ninety-six hundred dollars. Brooke's marrying a Caldwell. She has to have at least one piece that can hold its own."

Ninety-six hundred dollars. The exact amount in my savings account. To the penny.

I'd opened that account when I was fifteen. Since I was a minor, Mom was on it as a joint owner.

I hurried to my room and opened my banking app.

The balance said a few dollars and some change.

I called the bank. The rep was on hold for a long time. When she came back, she sounded apologetic.

"Ms. Whitmore, the other account holder transferred out the full balance two days ago. She's a joint owner, so legally, she's allowed to do that."

That's when I remembered. The year I turned eighteen, I'd said I wanted to take Mom's name off the account.

She'd laughed and said, "Leave it on, honey. If you ever have an emergency, Mom can help."

I walked back out to the backyard with the phone still in my hand.

The chatter slowly died down.

"Mom, where's my money?"

Mom frowned.

"This is your sister's bridal shower. You really want to make a scene in front of all these people?"

"Did you take the money out of my account?"

Brooke pulled her sleeve down over the tennis bracelet.

Mom could see there was no hiding it, so she just owned it.

"Brooke needed a statement piece. I figured you're getting married soon anyway, and Daniel has a paycheck. You can always save it up again."

"That was five years of hemming other people's pants and waiting tables."

Dad's voice was low and sharp.

"Why does family have to keep score over money? We raised you for twenty-some years. We use a little of your money, and we're supposed to file a report with you first?"

"Then why not use Brooke's money?"

Tyler's face went cold.

"Brooke's marrying into the Caldwells. Everything over there costs money. You're marrying a high school teacher. You're going to live a regular life. How can you compare yourself to her?"

There it was again.

Because Brooke was marrying well, she deserved everything.

Because I was marrying an ordinary man, my dress, Aunt June's check, and my own savings were all theirs to take.

Brooke's eyes filled as she started on the clasp.

"If Claire cares this much, just give it back to her. I can get married without all this jewelry."

She said she'd give it back. Her hand never moved toward me.

Mom had already wrapped her in a hug.

"You've got it on now. You don't take it off in front of guests."

I said it slowly, one word at a time.

"Give me back Grandma's lace. Grandma's bracelet. The five thousand dollars from Aunt June. And my ninety-six hundred dollars. All of it."

Mom's face changed.

"You're going to tear this family apart over things?"

"They're my things."

Dad laughed, a short, cold sound.

"You eat this family's food. You live under this family's roof. We gave you your life. Name one thing that's actually yours."

The backyard went silent.

I looked at Mom, hoping she'd say one word for me.

Instead she held Brooke tighter and looked at me like I'd let her down.

"Claire, you were always the easy one. Why is it that the closer you get to your wedding, the harder you are to deal with?"

Tyler drummed his fingers on the table, irritated.

"Brooke only gets married once. So you're missing a few things. You're not going to die."

I lost one thing. And then another.

Cake and dresses when I was little. Then Grandma's heirlooms. Then my wedding dress and my savings.

They always figured that as long as I was still breathing, I hadn't really lost anything.

When I didn't say anything, Mom thought I'd given in. Her voice softened.

"Once your sister's wedding is over, I'll sew a few flowers onto that dress of yours. We're done talking about this. End of discussion."

I lowered my eyes.

"Okay. End of discussion."

That night, I picked up the suitcase I'd packed days ago and checked into the motel at the edge of town.

Dad was busy with the guests. Mom was busy with Brooke's dress. Tyler was driving gifts over to the Caldwells'.

It was like I'd never been part of that house at all.

On my wedding day, before the sun was even up, I heard a horn honk in the parking lot.

Daniel was standing there in a brand-new navy suit, leaning against his old pickup truck. He'd washed it until it shone, and there was a bunch of white lilies of the valley tied to the front grille.

He held out his hand.

It was long-fingered and warm, and it didn't waver.

"Claire, I'm here to take you home."

I put my hand in his.

From that moment on, I was done with the Whitmores.

Back home, they would be up soon, fussing over Brooke's veil. Not one of them had noticed the other bride was already gone.