The Second Wedding
Chapter 16 - The Second Wedding
The courthouse ceremony had eleven guests.
Eleanor wore blue.
Richard attended.
Victoria did not.
Madison had invited her mother, but Victoria declined.
She said she wasn't ready to stand in a room with people she had hurt.
Eleanor understood.
After the ceremony, everyone gathered at a small restaurant overlooking the water.
Daniel raised a glass.
"I spent years believing success meant inheriting everything my father built."
He looked at Eleanor.
"My mother taught me that sometimes growing up means walking away from the things you thought proved your worth."
Eleanor cried quietly.
Madison squeezed Daniel's hand.
There was no mansion.
No orchestra.
No champagne tower.
Nobody cared.
Later that evening, Madison received a message from Victoria.
It said only:
I hope you were beautiful. I'm sorry I wasn't brave enough to see it.
Madison showed Eleanor.
"Should I answer?"
Eleanor thought for a moment.
"Do you want to?"
Madison nodded.
"Then answer."
She typed:
I was happy, Mom. I hope someday you can be happy too.
The reply didn't come immediately.
But an hour later, three words appeared.
I'm trying, sweetheart.
For Madison, it wasn't forgiveness.
May you like
Not yet.
But it was a beginning.
