Chapter 14 - When the Cameras Turned Away.
By early afternoon, the photographers had mostly left.
The red carpet still covered the hotel stairs, but it no longer looked like the entrance to a perfect life.
It looked like fabric waiting to be rolled up.
Guests collected gift bags and spoke in careful voices.
The ballroom meal was served without speeches.
Olivia stayed upstairs with her closest family.
Thomas left to speak with counsel.
Ryan went home.
David sat alone on a stone bench in the hotel garden holding a small pink wedding card.
Emily found him there only because Lily asked where he was.
The girls stopped several feet away.
David stood immediately.
For once, he did not check whether anyone else was watching.
"Hi."
Lily looked at him.
"Hi."
Sophie held Emily's hand.
David crouched.
"I owe you both an apology."
Emily stayed silent.
David looked at Lily first.
"I should have invited you."
Then he looked at Sophie.
"I should have come to see you when I said I would."
Sophie studied him with serious eyes.
"Why didn't you?"
David took a breath.
"Because I kept choosing work and worrying about what other people thought."
He shook his head.
"Those were bad choices."
Lily pointed toward the pink card in his hand.
"Did you read the whole thing?"
David nodded.
"Three times."
"Do you like it?"
His eyes filled.
"I love it."
Lily stepped closer.
"Can we still be your family if you marry Olivia later?"
David looked at Emily for one second.
She gave him no rescue.
He turned back to his daughter.
"You are my family whether I marry anyone or not."
Lily seemed to consider the answer.
"Then you have to come to my school thing Friday."
David almost smiled.
"Your reading day?"
Her eyes widened.
"You remembered?"
The joy in her voice made the question painful.
"Yes."
He swallowed.
"I remembered."
Lily held out her little finger.
"Promise?"
David looked at it.
Emily's expression changed slightly.
He understood what she had told him.
Stop making promises based on the person you hope to be.
He checked his phone.
His Friday calendar was full of meetings.
For the old David, that would have been the end of the discussion.
He opened the schedule and began moving them.
Emily watched without comment.
David put the phone away.
Then he linked his little finger with Lily's.
"I will be there at two."
Sophie immediately raised her finger too.
"Me too?"
David laughed softly.
"You're already going to be there."
She frowned.
"Promise me something anyway."
David thought for a moment.
"I promise I will call you tomorrow at seven after dinner."
Sophie nodded solemnly.
"Okay."
The girls moved closer, and after a hesitant second, David hugged them.
Emily looked toward the hotel windows.
She did not mistake one good conversation for change.
But she also did not interrupt it.
When the girls went with Margaret to collect their things, David remained beside Emily.
"I blamed you for everything today."
Emily folded her arms.
"Yes."
He almost laughed.
"You could make this easier."
"I spent years making things easier for you."
David nodded slowly.
"I know."
That answer surprised her.
He looked toward the red carpet.
"Did you come here wanting me to lose Olivia?"
Emily's expression softened, but only slightly.
"No."
She paused.
"I wanted the girls to be included."
David looked down.
"I don't know if Olivia will ever talk to me again."
"That is between you and Olivia."
He nodded.
Then he looked at her gold gown and the hotel around them.
"Were you ever going to tell me about Carter Rowe?"
Emily smiled faintly.
"Why?"
David considered the question.
Then he smiled too, but there was no arrogance left in it.
"Fair point."
Emily picked up her clutch.
"My car is waiting."
David watched her turn away.
"Emily."
She stopped.
"Thank you for bringing them."
She looked back at him.
"Don't thank me."
Her eyes moved toward the girls.
"Make them glad they came."
Emily walked toward the hotel entrance.
Her phone buzzed before she reached the doors.
It was a message from Olivia.
May you like
Just one line.
Can we talk before you leave?
