“What? Ashley told me Grandma was making it as a wedding gift.”
He turned toward his bride.
“Is that true?”
Ashley folded her arms.
“Okay, fine. She mentioned she wanted money at first. But you don’t charge family for a wedding cake, Daniel. That’s ridiculous. And now your sister is making a huge spectacle over nothing.”
“Grandma didn’t want to spoil your wedding,” I explained.
Daniel glanced toward her table, where she sat perfectly still.
“Why did you pay her back yourself?” he asked quietly.
“She needed the money for her medication.”
Daniel turned toward Ashley.
“You knew she needed money for medicine?”
“Oh, please.” Ashley waved dismissively. “She was being dramatic.”
“When Grandma explained it,” I said, “Ashley laughed in her face.”
I’ll never forget the expression on my brother’s face.
He stared at his wife, waiting for her to explain.
I could almost see him hoping she’d deny it, say there’d been a misunderstanding, or at least apologize.
Instead, Ashley rolled her eyes.
“Oh, for God’s sake. She’s not going to die because she has to wait a few days for her medicine.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
Ashley continued speaking, seemingly unaware.
“And honestly, everyone’s watching, the photos are going to be ruined, and I can’t believe you’re all making such a huge deal out of…”
Daniel looked toward Grandma again.
She sat with her hands tightly folded, desperately trying to appear unaffected.
Her chin trembled once.
Then he turned back to Ashley.
“Enough of this,” he said.
