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Vada perked up, dropping the pen to the table. Her heart pumped heavily in her chest. This was it.
“Speaking of caterers, I have to give my final head count by tomorrow.”
It was the opposite of subtle and a lie. The final count had been handled over a week ago. But her mom didn’t know that.
“Who on earth have you hired that ten days is acceptable?”
Oh, dammit. That lie backfired.
Vada clasped her hands, rested her elbow on her knees, and leaned forward. “They’re great, Mom. The food is amazing. We did a tasting with them last year, and it was nearly impossible to narrow down our selections. Everything was delicious. And they’ve been extremely patient and flexible with the date changes.”
It wasn’t meant to be a dig, though there was truth to her statement. Her mother glossed over the comment and countered it with a challenge.
She scoffed, and Vada heard rustling in the background. “If they’re so fabulous, I would think they’d be booked solid and unable to make accommodations for the changes.”
Vada closed her eyes. She’d walked right into that one.
“I’m sorry to cut this short, Vada, but I have to be going. I have a lunch date, and I’m already running late. I’ll speak with you next week.”
This came as no shock. Anytime mention of her wedding was brought up, her mother was quick to end the call.
“I just have one quick—”
“Vada, I’m already late.” Her mother sighed.
Say it!
“I would really love for you and Dad to be at my wedding.” The knot in her throat thickened. “Please.”
She physically cringed hearing the desperation and pitifulness in her tone. Vada drove her hand through her hair and stared at the phone on the table. There was a long stretch of silence. So long that Vada leaned down for a closer look at her screen to confirm her mother hadn’t hung up. She hadn’t. Her mother was still there but not saying a word.
Time ticked by at a snail’s pace, prolonging the awkward silence. It had her hope hanging on by a string.
“Remind me of the date again.”
Vada straightened and smiled down at the phone. “The fifteenth. The ceremony starts at four, and the reception immediately follows.”
Never count out hope.
“Your father is away on business that weekend. It’s a big merger, and he has to be there.”
Of course. Vada bit her lip, fighting the urge to call her mother out for the obvious. Her father was the boss and called all the shots. If he wanted to reschedule, he could.
“But you’re available?” Her tone spiked.
“It’s also the weekend before the gala.”
Vada dropped her chin to her chest, feeling the weight of her utter disappointment. It wasn’t a solid no, but it was close.
“You know how much preparation goes into the event.”
Vada bit her lip, nodding in agreeance with her mother. It was a decent excuse. Certainly better than the last one and more believable. However, the gala wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment shindig thrown together in ten days. The date was planned years in advance.
I see what you’re doing here, Mom.
“I just thought maybe…” her voice trailed off. Vada didn’t know how she intended to finish her sentence. She was drowning at this point. If she hadn’t been so blinded, she would have seen the writing on the wall. Countless calls, more effort than any one person should have to put forth, and two delays on one of the most important days of her life. Vada had made all the sacrifices and in return, received nothing.
But she wasn’t quite ready to let it go and accept it.
