"Yes."
His jaw tightened.
"Robert would be furious."
I smiled sadly.
"Robert would probably have said something much less polite than anything I've said tonight."
Richard pulled out a chair.
"Sit down."
I sat.
He placed a hand over mine.
"Don't make the mistake of thinking that being a good mother means allowing your child to destroy your dignity."
His words stayed with me.
A few minutes later, the wedding coordinator returned.
"Mrs. Bennett, we've reviewed the immediate arrangements. The services already provided will be handled according to the signed agreements. However, several additional services remain unpaid."
I nodded.
"Please don't process them under my account."
Tiffany overheard.
"What do you mean, additional services?"
The coordinator explained that an upgraded private dining arrangement, imported champagne, and a separate after-party package had been added to the original plan.
The total was twenty-eight thousand dollars.
I stared at her.
"Twenty-eight thousand?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I never authorized that."
Tiffany crossed her arms.
"My father arranged it."
I looked toward her father.
He was standing several feet away, suddenly very interested in his phone.
"Then perhaps your father should pay for it."
Tiffany's eyes widened.
"You know my parents are hosting important guests tonight!"
I nodded.
"Then they can decide how much they want to spend entertaining them."
She looked furious.
"You promised to pay for the wedding!"
"I promised to help my son have a beautiful wedding. I did not promise to finance every demand made by your family."
Daniel approached.
"What's happening?"
The coordinator explained the additional invoice.
Daniel looked at Tiffany.
"Twenty-eight thousand? I thought your father was paying for that."
"He was supposed to."
"Then why is it being charged to Mom?"
Tiffany turned toward him.
"Because your mother agreed to handle the wedding expenses!"
I shook my head.
"I never approved that amount."
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Can we please stop discussing money in front of everyone?"
I looked at him.
"This is no longer simply about money."
Before I could say anything else, the wedding planner approached with a tablet.
"Mrs. Bennett, there's something else you need to know."
I turned.
"What is it?"
She lowered her voice.
"There's an outstanding financial arrangement connected to the additional package. It appears that someone submitted a preliminary request using information from a property owned by your family."
My stomach tightened.
"What property?"
She hesitated.
"Your house, ma'am."
For a moment, I couldn't hear anything.
My house?
The small two-story home Robert and I had purchased thirty-seven years earlier?
The house where Daniel had grown up?
The place where my husband had spent his final days?
I stared at her.
"What does my house have to do with this wedding?"
She looked uncomfortable.
"I don't have all the details. I only thought you should know that the documentation references your property."
I looked toward Daniel.
His face had changed.
He knew something.
I could see it in his eyes.
And suddenly, I understood that the slap might not have been the worst thing that happened that evening.
I took out my phone and called Jonathan Reed, my attorney.
He answered immediately.
"Margaret? Is everything all right?"
"No, Jonathan. I need your help."
I explained the situation as carefully as I could.
When I mentioned the property documents, he became very serious.
"Have you signed anything authorizing someone to use your house as collateral?"
"No."
"Have you given Daniel or Tiffany power of attorney?"
"No."
"Have you agreed to sell the property?"
"Absolutely not."
"Good. Don't sign anything. Don't authorize anything. Send me whatever documents you have."
I looked toward Daniel.
He was standing near Tiffany.
She was speaking rapidly, gesturing with her hands.
"Jonathan," I whispered, "I think my son knows more than he's telling me."
"Then we need to establish the facts."
I ended the call.
Then I turned toward Daniel.
"Did you know they were discussing my house?"
His face went pale.
"Mom..."
"Answer me."
He looked toward Tiffany.
Then back at me.
"Can we talk about this tomorrow?"
I nodded slowly.
"That isn't an answer."
He swallowed.
"Mom, we were only trying to plan for the future."
I stared at him.
"What future, Daniel?"
"Our future."
I felt my heart sink.
"Then why wasn't I allowed to know about it?"
He had no answer.
I picked up my handbag.
Then I walked toward the exit.
I had spent enough money.
I had endured enough humiliation.
And I had finally reached the point where I no longer needed to stay somewhere simply because I had paid to be there.
The following morning, I woke up with a bruise on my cheek.
I made coffee and sat at the kitchen table where Robert and I had spent thousands of mornings together.
At eight fifteen, Jonathan called.
"Margaret, I've reviewed the information you sent me."
I straightened in my chair.
"What did you find?"
"There's a preliminary financial proposal connected to Collins Property Holdings. It references your property."
"Why?"