Chapter 2: You Knew She Couldn't Use That Arm
I rose slowly from beside Emily.
The jazz quartet had stopped playing. Guests stood in small, uncertain groups, their champagne glasses forgotten in their hands. The photographer had lowered his camera, and Claire looked as though she wanted to disappear into the nearest building.
Vanessa glanced around at the silent crowd.
"Can everyone stop staring? She's fine.""
Emily flinched when she heard her voice.
That small movement did something to me.
My sister had spent her entire life trying not to inconvenience anyone. She apologized when people bumped into her. She thanked restaurant servers who brought her the wrong order. After her accident, she had apologized to me for needing rides to physical therapy.
And now, sitting in a puddle beside a swimming pool, she was still trying to make herself smaller.
I stepped between her and Vanessa.
"You pushed her with both hands.""
Vanessa's mouth opened.
"I thought she could swim.""
"You knew she still couldn't use that arm!""
My voice carried across the terrace.
Several guests turned away. Others stared directly at us.
Vanessa folded her arms, careful not to disturb the fitted bodice of her gown.
"She went to the pool. I barely touched her.""
"You shoved her.""
"Daniel, it was supposed to be funny.""
"Funny to whom?""
She looked at the guests as if one of them might rescue her.
No one did.
Claire finally stepped forward.
"Vanessa, I saw what happened. Emily told you she didn't want to stand that close to the edge.""
Vanessa whipped around.
"Claire, stay out of this.""
"I'm not staying out of it. You pushed her.""
"Oh, so now you're taking her side?""
Claire's face tightened.
"I'm taking the side of the person who just fell into a swimming pool because you put your hands on her.""
Vanessa laughed sharply.
"This is unbelievable.""
I turned back toward Emily.
Her face had gone pale. She was trying to hold the towel in place with her left hand while keeping her right arm still.
"Can you move your fingers?"" I asked.
"A little.""
"Does it hurt more than before?""
She swallowed.
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
A resort employee knelt nearby.
"I'm calling the medical team now," she said.
"We need to have her checked.""
"Thank you," I replied.
Vanessa made an impatient sound.
"You're seriously turning this into a medical emergency?""
I looked at her.
"She's injured, Vanessa.""
"She was injured before she came here!""
The words landed harder than the splash.
Emily's eyes filled again.
Vanessa continued, apparently unaware of what she had just revealed about herself.
"I have spent twelve months planning this wedding. My family flew in from three states. Your colleagues are here.
The photographer has been paid. We have a reception waiting inside, and now everybody is acting like I committed a crime because your sister got wet.""
I stared at her.
"She could have hit her head.""
"But she didn't.""
"She could have damaged her arm further.""
"But she didn't!""
"How do you know?""
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
"Because she's sitting right there talking to you!""
Emily looked away.
I heard a quiet voice behind me.
"That's enough, Vanessa.""
It was my best man, Marcus.
He had known me since college. He was usually the first person to defuse an argument, but now he stood with his hands clenched at his sides.
Vanessa gave him a cold smile.
"Marcus, you're not involved.""
"Neither was Emily supposed to be involved in whatever game you were playing.""
"This is my wedding weekend!"" Vanessa snapped.
"Stop making everything about Emily!""
I looked at the woman I had promised to love for the rest of my life.
There were two hundred people around us. Some were relatives who had traveled hundreds of miles. Others were friends who had helped us move apartments, celebrate promotions, and survive difficult years.
Vanessa knew every person in that crowd.
She knew how important appearances were to them. She knew how much I valued family. She knew exactly how difficult it had been for Emily to recover from her accident.
And she had pushed my sister into a pool anyway.
I could have shouted. I could have told her what I thought of her in front of every guest.
Instead, I asked one question.
"Did you apologize to her?""
Vanessa blinked.
"What?""
"Did you apologize to Emily?""
She looked toward my sister.
Emily sat with a towel around her shoulders, shivering in the warm afternoon air.
Vanessa gave an exaggerated sigh.
"Fine. Emily, I'm sorry you got upset.""
I felt something inside me go completely still.
Emily looked up.
"You pushed me.""
"I said I was sorry.""
"You didn't say you shouldn't have done it.""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"Are you seriously going to lecture me at my own wedding?""
Emily's lips trembled, but she held Vanessa's gaze.
"I didn't ask you to push me.""
For once, Vanessa had no immediate answer.
Then she turned toward me.
"Are you going to let her talk to me like that?""
I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
"She's the one who ended up in the pool.""
"Because she can't take a joke!""
I took a slow breath.
"Vanessa, look at her.""
"I don't need you to tell me where to look.""
"Then look at her yourself.""
She glanced at Emily for less than a second before turning away.
That was when I understood that the problem wasn't a misunderstanding.
Vanessa had seen my sister's fear. She had heard her objections. She had known about her injury.
She simply hadn't cared enough to stop.
The medical team arrived with a wheelchair and a first-aid bag. They examined Emily's arm carefully and recommended that she be taken for further evaluation because the pain had increased after the fall.
I helped her stand.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
Emily shook her head.
"You didn't do it.""
"I should have been there.""
"You were getting married.""
I looked at her.
"That doesn't excuse anything.""
She gripped my left hand.
"Daniel, please don't let this become something you regret because of me.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
She glanced toward Vanessa, who was now arguing with Claire about the ruined photographs.
"I don't want to be the reason your marriage falls apart.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"You are not the reason.""
Emily studied my face as though she was trying to decide whether to believe me.
Then she said something I would remember long after the wedding flowers had wilted.
"Promise me you'll make your own decision. Not because I'm hurt. Not because everybody's watching. Just because you know what's right.""
I squeezed her hand.
"I promise.""
The medical team began guiding her toward the resort entrance.
I walked beside her until she reached the covered walkway. Marcus offered to accompany her to the clinic, and I accepted because I needed a moment alone.
Before Emily left, she looked back at me.
"Don't let anyone convince you that what happened was funny.""
"I won't.""
She nodded, then disappeared through the doors.
I remained outside for several seconds, listening to the soft splash of the pool's fountains.
Behind me, Vanessa called my name.
"Daniel! We need to talk about the reception.""
I turned.
She was standing beneath the white floral arch, holding the skirt of her gown away from the damp stone.
"Not here," she said.
"Everyone is watching.""
I almost told her that everyone had watched her push my sister into the water.
Instead, I walked toward her.
"Then let's go somewhere private.""
Her shoulders relaxed, as if she believed the argument was already over.
"Good. Because I need you to understand something.""
She reached for my hand.
I didn't take it.
"What?"" I asked.
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"Your sister has always been jealous of me. And now she's finally managed to ruin the most important day of my life.""
I stared at her hand hanging between us.
May you like
Then I looked into her eyes.
And I realized that whatever I said next would change both our lives.
