Then I looked at Barbara.
“What did you do?”
She stood near the front row looking completely calm.
“I simply made your dress honest.”
Someone whispered,
“Oh my God.”
Barbara continued as though she were explaining a decoration.
“My son isn’t only marrying you, is he?”
She gestured toward the train.
“Now everyone can see the baggage you’re bringing into his marriage.”
I heard a tiny sound beside me.
Lisa.
I turned.
Her face had crumpled.
“Am I baggage?”
Everything inside me went hot.
I grabbed her hand immediately.
“No. Absolutely not.”
Then I looked at Brandon.
He wasn’t looking at me.
He was staring at the suitcases.
Then he slowly turned toward his mother.
I had never seen that expression on his face before.
He looked at the pastor.
“Give me five minutes.”
And then he walked away.
Straight down the aisle.
Out through the main doors.
I stared after him.
My first thought was that he needed air.
My second thought terrified me.
What if Barbara had finally gotten through to him?
I hated myself for even considering it.
Brandon had spent years proving that he loved Lisa.
But this was humiliating.
Public.
Messy.
And Barbara looked almost pleased.
She adjusted her jacket.
Five minutes later, the doors opened again.
Brandon walked inside.
He was carrying Lisa’s little purple suitcase.
My heart stopped.
Lisa stared.
“That’s mine.”
Barbara saw it too.
And suddenly, she smiled.
A slow, satisfied smile.
“I’m glad you finally came to your senses.”
Brandon didn’t answer.
He walked down the aisle.
Then he placed the suitcase on the floor in front of Lisa.
He reached for the zipper.
Barbara’s smile vanished.
“Brandon.”
He ignored her.
“Brandon, don’t open that here.”
Now she looked nervous.
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