The House Behind the Wedding
Chapter 02 - The House Behind the Wedding
Richard came down the porch steps quickly.
"Eleanor?"
Victoria lowered the hose.
"You know her?"
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Eleanor struggled to stand.
Daniel finally appeared at the front door beside his bride, Madison.
"Mom?"
For one second, Eleanor believed her son would run toward her.
He didn't.
He looked at the soaked dress.
The muddy grass.
The watching guests.
Then he looked embarrassed.
"What are you doing here?"
The question hurt more than the water.
Eleanor stared at the boy she had raised alone through half of his childhood while his father worked construction jobs across three states.
"I was invited."
Madison folded her arms.
"That invitation was canceled."
Daniel's eyes shifted.
Eleanor noticed.
He hadn't known.
Victoria stepped closer.
"We agreed she shouldn't be here. She has been creating scenes for months."
Eleanor's voice remained quiet.
"I haven't created a single scene."
Victoria laughed.
"You threatened to take this house away."
Richard looked sharply at his wife.
"What?"
Eleanor opened her purse.
The wet documents inside were still readable.
"I didn't threaten anyone."
She looked toward the mansion.
"I came here because this property was never theirs to give away."
A murmur moved through the wedding guests.
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Mom, Dad left this house to me."
"No," Eleanor said.
"Your father let you live here."
She pulled out another document.
"He left it to me."
The silence became absolute.
Daniel shook his head.
"That's impossible."
Eleanor looked at him with wet, tired eyes.
"I know."
May you like
Then she looked directly at Victoria.
"That's why I came to ask who forged my signature."
