. CHAPTER 3 — The First Cut
The first real cut came when Vanessa asked for the microphone.
Everyone thought she wanted to thank the guests. The planner hurried forward, grateful for any moment that looked elegant enough to post later. Vanessa accepted the microphone with a smile so perfect it made Adam’s stomach tighten.
“I want to say something about love,” she began.
The garden softened. Glasses lowered. Even the string quartet faded into silence.
Vanessa turned toward Adam in his wheelchair. “Love is standing by someone when life changes. Love is sacrifice. Love is patience.”
For one fragile second, Adam wondered if he had misjudged her.
Then she tilted her head and laughed.
“But patience has limits, doesn’t it?” she said. “I mean, girls, be honest. Nobody dreams of pushing her husband down the aisle instead of walking beside him.”
A few guests gasped. Others looked away. Adam’s uncle rose from his chair, but Adam lifted one hand, stopping him.
Vanessa enjoyed the silence. It gave her permission to go further.
“I didn’t sign up to become a nurse before the honeymoon,” she continued. “And I definitely didn’t sign up to spend my life married to a man who needs help getting into bed.”
Clara stepped forward. “Miss Vale, please.”
Vanessa snapped her eyes toward her. “The help doesn’t speak during family events.”
The words struck the garden harder than the speech. Clara lowered her gaze, but Adam saw her jaw tighten. She had served the Hartwell family for twenty-two years. She had held Adam’s hand at his mother’s funeral. She was more family than half the people sipping champagne behind him.
Adam finally spoke, calm and low.
“Apologize to her.”
Vanessa smiled down at him.
“Or what?” she whispered, loud enough for the front row to hear. “You’ll stand up and make me?”
May you like
Someone dropped a glass.
Adam’s fingers curled around the arms of the wheelchair.
