Chapter 6: Cedar Grove Calls the Groom
I was still in Marcus's office when Julian's world started coming apart.
Marcus made the call to Cedar Grove at 9:47 in the morning.
He was professional, precise, and brief.
He cited the contract clause, confirmed my identity as primary account holder, and formally withdrew my financial authorization.
The estate's events coordinator asked two clarifying questions.
Marcus answered both.
The call lasted less than four minutes.
At 9:53, Cedar Grove called Julian.
I know this because at 9:54, Julian called me eleven times in a row.
I watched the screen light up and go dark, light up and go dark, from across Marcus's desk.
"He'll go to the venue," Marcus said.
"I know."
"Do you want to be there when he does?"
I thought about it.
"Not yet."
Marcus nodded.
He poured two cups of coffee from the machine on his credenza and set one in front of me without asking.
We sat in the quiet of his office while my phone continued to buzz at intervals, each call from a different number.
Julian.
Dad.
Mom.
A number I didn't recognize — probably Chloe's mother, who I had met once at an engagement dinner and who had spent the entire evening talking about her daughter's taste in interior design.
At 10:22, a text came through from Julian.
I read it.
*You have destroyed my life.
I hope you know that.
Call me back RIGHT NOW or I will never speak to you again.*
I set the phone down.
"He says he'll never speak to me again," I said.
Marcus looked up from his legal pad.
"Is that a threat or a promise?"
Something loosened in my chest.
Not quite a laugh.
But close.
At 10:45, Marcus's phone rang.
It was his contact at Cedar Grove.
He put it on speaker.
"The groom arrived at the venue at 10:38," the coordinator said.
Her voice was carefully neutral.
"He's been informed of the authorization withdrawal and the outstanding balance.
He's asked us to accept a partial payment and defer the remainder."
"What partial payment?" Marcus asked.
"He's offered $4,000.
Cash.
He says he can have the rest within thirty days."
Marcus looked at me.
I shook my head.
"The estate's position," Marcus said, "is governed by the contract terms.
The primary account holder has withdrawn authorization.
The emergency financial contact — Mr.
Julian — is now responsible for the full outstanding balance of $74,000.
The estate should proceed accordingly."
A pause on the line.
"Understood.
I'll relay that."
"Thank you."
The call ended.
Marcus set his phone down.
"$4,000," I said.
"Yes."
"He called me a loser in front of twenty relatives and he has $4,000."
"Apparently."
I picked up my coffee.
It had gone slightly cold but I drank it anyway.
At 11:10, my mother called.
I looked at her name on the screen for a long moment.
Then I answered.
"Hello, Mom."
"What have you done." It wasn't a question.
Her voice was flat and tight, the tone she used when she had already decided who was wrong and was calling to confirm it.
"I withdrew my financial authorization from the venue contract," I said.
"Which I was entitled to do."
"You have ruined your brother's wedding."
"Julian ruined my invitation to his wedding.
Yesterday morning.
In the family group chat."
"That was a misunderstanding—"
"He typed the words.
Dad liked them.
That's not a misunderstanding, Mom.
That's a choice."
A silence.
Then: "Your father is very upset."
"His name is on the florist contract," I said.
"As a joint account holder.
Did you know that?"
Another silence.
Longer this time.
"He was trying to help," she said, but her voice had shifted slightly.
"He signed a contract and told me his money was tied up.
Those two things cannot both be true."
"You are being vindictive."
"I am enforcing a contract that has my name on it." I kept my voice even.
"If you want to talk about vindictive, read Julian's text again."
She hung up.
Marcus had been looking at his legal pad during the call.
He didn't comment.
He didn't need to.
My phone buzzed one more time.
Not a call.
A text.
From a number I didn't have saved.
*This is Chloe.
I think we need to talk.
Just the two of us.
Please.*
May you like
I stared at that message for a long time.
Then I typed back: *Where?*
