“I’m asking you to take it off.”
“It’s Mommy’s.”
“I know what it is.”
A pause.
Then Lily.
“She’s coming with me.”
Vanessa sighed.
“No, Lily. She isn’t. Your mother is gone.”
Michael closed his eyes.
The recording continued.
“I know she died.”
“Then you need to stop acting like she belongs in every important moment between your father and me.”
“But Daddy said—”
“I don’t care what your father said last night. I am telling you what is going to happen today.”
A rustling sound.
Lily’s voice became frightened.
“Don’t.”
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Lily.”
“No!”
Then a small metallic snap.
Michael felt his daughter bury her face against his shoulder.
On the recording, Lily began to cry.
Vanessa’s voice dropped lower.
“Look at me.”
Silence.
“After today, things are going to change. You cannot run to your father every time you don’t get what you want.”
“I want my necklace.”
“And I want one day where your dead mother isn’t in the middle of my relationship.”
The ballroom seemed to shrink.
Then came a faint crunch.
Michael looked at the dented locket in his hand.
The recording continued.
Lily cried harder.
“You broke her.”
Vanessa replied, “Stop being dramatic.”
Another pause.
Then the sentence that ended any remaining doubt Michael might have possessed.
“You need to learn that your father chose me. He cannot spend the rest of his life choosing you first.”
No one spoke when the clip ended.
Noah slowly removed his hand from the keyboard.
Lily’s face remained hidden against Michael’s shoulder.
Michael did not look at Vanessa.
Not immediately.
He kissed Lily’s hair.
Then he handed her gently to Margaret.
“Take her outside.”
Lily grabbed his lapel.
“No.”
“I’m right here.”
“Don’t marry her.”
The desperation in her voice cut through him.
Michael touched her cheek.
“I’m not marrying anyone today.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
Only then did Lily let Margaret carry her toward the side doors.
Michael watched until they disappeared.
Then he turned.
Vanessa stood beneath an arch of white roses they had spent nearly nine thousand dollars decorating.
For the first time since he met her, Michael did not recognize her.
Or perhaps he recognized her more clearly than ever.
“How long?” he asked.
Vanessa blinked.
“What?”
“How long have you spoken to her that way?”
She looked around at the guests.
“Michael, please.”
“How long?”
“You’re angry.”
“Yes.”
“And you should be. I lost my temper.”
“That wasn’t losing your temper.”
“Of course it was.”
“You sounded calm.”