Chapter 1 - The Parking Lot Confrontation
The valet held my car door open, but my feet remained planted on the concrete.
Marcus was sprinting toward me, his tuxedo jacket flapping in the wind.
Chloe was struggling to keep up, holding the heavy folds of her silk gown.
"Mom, wait!" he yelled, his chest heaving as he finally reached me.
"Where are you going?" he demanded, looking genuinely confused.
"They're about to serve dinner, and you're not at your table."
I looked at my son, searching his eyes for any sign of malice.
There was none, only innocent confusion.
"I found my seat, Marcus," I said evenly.
"It was outside, next to the dumpsters."
Marcus blinked, the words slowly registering in his mind.
"What?" he stammered, turning to look at Chloe, who had just caught up to us.
Chloe was panting, her face flushed red, and she immediately put on a mask of pure innocence.
"Oh, Marcus, there must have been a mix-up with the catering staff!" she gasped, touching his arm.
"I told them to put her at table one."
I didn't yell, and I didn't cry.
I simply opened my purse and pulled out the crumpled place card with my name written in gold calligraphy.
May you like
I held it up to the harsh light of the streetlamp.
"A mix-up doesn't involve a custom place card resting on a folding chair in the alley, Chloe."
