“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Elena hugged her.
Too long.
“My beautiful girl.”
Chloe stiffened but allowed it.
“I can’t believe this day is finally here.”
Neither could Chloe.
Elena behaved perfectly during the ceremony.
She cried.
Clapped.
Smiled for photographs when invited.
At dinner, she spoke warmly to relatives she had not seen in years.
For a while, Chloe thought perhaps they might survive the evening without reopening old wounds.
Then came the speeches.
Her father went first.
He kept it short.
Of course he did.
He talked about Chloe learning to ride a bike.
About how she used to sleep with one shoe on because apparently removing both was too much work.
Everybody laughed.
Then he looked at her husband.
“Love her when she’s easy.”
He paused.
“And when she isn’t.”
