Chapter 4
For a moment, I thought Diane had said the wrong name.
My father's company?
Dad owned a small commercial construction business.
Mama had helped him with bookkeeping when I was little.
She used to joke that he could build a house but couldn't organize a receipt.
I didn't understand why she would investigate him.
Dad looked equally confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Diane folded her arms.
"Naomi had questions about payments involving your business."
My father shook his head.
"That's impossible."
"Is it?"
Lauren stepped forward.
"Mom, stop making accusations without proof."
Diane looked at her daughter.
"Ask him whether Bennett Construction ever received foundation money."
Dad stared at her.
Then his expression changed.
"Yes."
My stomach tightened.
Lauren looked toward him.
"What?"
Dad swallowed.
"We completed renovation work for Diane's community center."
Diane smiled bitterly.
"Exactly."
He shook his head.
"That was legitimate work."
"Then you have nothing to worry about."
My father stared at her.
The room felt smaller.
I could hear my own heartbeat.
I looked between them.
"Can somebody please tell me what's happening?"
Dad turned toward me.
His face softened.
"Sweetheart, the foundation paid my company for construction work."
I nodded slowly.
"Okay."
"Diane is suggesting there were problems with those payments."
I looked at Diane.
"Were there?"
She shrugged.
"That's what your mother was trying to find out."
I felt sick.
Mama had been investigating money.
Diane had threatened her.
And Dad's company was somehow involved.
Nothing made sense.
Lauren took my hand.
"Ava, let's sit down."
I pulled away.
"No."
She stopped immediately.
I wasn't angry with her.
But I couldn't sit still.
I needed answers.
Dad called Mr. Collins.
The attorney answered after several rings.
When Dad explained what had happened, his voice became serious.
"Marcus, preserve the documents exactly as they are."
Dad nodded.
"Of course."
"And don't confront anyone further until we review the records."
Diane scoffed.
"How convenient."
Mr. Collins continued.
"I can meet with you tomorrow."
Dad agreed.
Then he asked whether the flash drive contained financial information.
Mr. Collins hesitated.
"It may. We need to review the files carefully."
Dad thanked him and ended the call.
I stared at the envelope.
"Can I keep Mama's letter?"
Dad looked at me.
"Yes."
He carefully separated it from the other documents.
I folded it and placed it inside my small handbag.
Then I looked toward Lauren.
She was standing beside the dressing table.
Her wedding bouquet lay forgotten.
Her eyes were swollen.
I felt terrible.
"I'm sorry."
She turned.
"For what?"
"Your wedding."
Lauren shook her head.
"Ava, you didn't ruin anything."
I looked down.
"But everybody's upset."
She walked closer.
"That's because adults have been keeping secrets. Not because you loved your mother."
My throat tightened.
I nodded.
Then Dad spoke.
"Lauren, we need to talk."
She looked at him.
"I know."
He glanced toward Diane.
"Privately."
Diane's face hardened.
Lauren turned toward her mother.
"You need to leave."
Diane stared.
"Excuse me?"
"Please."
For a moment, I thought she might refuse.
Then she picked up her handbag.
She looked at me.
"You'll understand someday."
I met her eyes.
"No."
She blinked.
"I understand enough."
Diane walked out.
The door closed behind her.
Lauren sank into a chair.
Then began crying.
Dad stood motionless.
I looked at them.
These were supposed to be happy people.
They had planned this wedding for nearly a year.
They'd chosen flowers.
Music.
Cake.
They'd promised to make a family.
And now everything was falling apart.
Dad knelt beside Lauren.
"I'm sorry."
She wiped her eyes.
"Did you know my mother had threatened Naomi?"
He shook his head.
"Not until three weeks ago."
Lauren stared.
"Three weeks?"
He looked ashamed.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Dad closed his eyes.
"I wanted to understand what had happened before accusing your mother."
Lauren shook her head.
"You should've told me."
"I know."
She looked toward me.
"And you should've told Ava there was something important about her mother."
Dad's eyes filled.
"I was trying to protect her."
Lauren's voice cracked.
"By keeping her in the dark?"
My father didn't answer.
I stared at him.
For the first time, I realized he had made mistakes too.
He hadn't caused Mama's death.
But he'd kept secrets about her.
And those secrets had exploded in the middle of his wedding.
I felt hurt.
I also understood he was frightened.
Both feelings were true.
Dad turned toward me.
"Ava, I'm sorry."
I looked down.
He continued.
"I thought waiting was the safest choice."
I swallowed.
"It didn't feel safe."
His face crumpled.
"I know."
We sat quietly.
Then Lauren removed the pearl comb from her hair.
She placed it beside her bouquet.
"Marcus, I can't go through with the reception tonight."
Dad nodded slowly.
"I understand."
She looked at him.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"But we need to find out what my mother did."
My father swallowed.
"Yes."
Lauren looked toward me.
"And we need to make sure Ava never feels like her mother's memory is something shameful."
I began crying.
She opened her arms.
This time, I stepped into them.
She hugged me gently.
Not as a replacement for Mama.
Not as someone trying to erase her.
But as a woman who cared about me.
That mattered.
Later that evening, we left the reception garden.
Dad carried my mother's place card.
I held her letter.
Lauren walked beside us.
The wedding guests had mostly gone home.
The flowers were still beautiful.
The cake remained untouched.
And the empty chair stood exactly where Dad had left it.
Before we reached the car, I turned back.
I looked at the little white-and-gold card.
Mama.
Then I whispered something I hadn't said aloud all day.
"I miss you."
Dad heard me.
He stopped walking.
Then he came back and wrapped his arms around me.
"I know, baby."
I pressed my face against his chest.
And for a moment, I allowed myself to cry.
May you like
Not because the wedding was ruined.
But because I was beginning to understand how many people had been hiding parts of my mother's story.
