My boy Grant has forever been the easygoing one. He steers clear of arguments, hardly ever raises his tone, and prefers meeting halfway over turning a disagreement into a battle. Vanessa was far more vocal. I genuinely figured that was why they clicked so well. She coaxed him out of his shell. He seemed to smooth out her rough edges. A week prior to their big day, Vanessa gave me a ring. \u201cJoan, would you mind terribly not wearing blue to the ceremony?\u201d I felt puzzled. I had already purchased a navy dress. \u201cWhy? Is something wrong with it?\u201d \u201cNo, no. It\u2019s lovely. Blue is simply part of the wedding color scheme, and I\u2019d hate for it to look awkward in the photographs.\u201d I didn\u2019t want to turn a dress into a major issue, so I went out and bought another one. Then I arrived at the venue. And the instant I stepped inside, I froze in my tracks. Vanessa\u2019s mom was wearing blue. For a moment, I honestly thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I had spent money on an entirely new outfit because Vanessa specifically urged me to avoid that exact shade. And now her very own mother stood right there in a stunning floor-length blue gown as though it were the most ordinary thing in the world. What on earth? I was already irritated. Then I scanned the room. Even a couple of her aunts had blue on. They all wore matching little corsages as well. I tracked down Vanessa before the ceremony started. \u201cYou told me nobody else was supposed to wear blue.\u201d She shifted uncomfortably. \u201cNot exactly.\u201d \u201cThen why did you tell me not to?\u201d Before she could reply, her mother stepped in closer. \u201cBlue is reserved for family.\u201d I stared right at her. \u201cI am the groom\u2019s mother.\u201d She offered me a tight, polite smile. I turned my gaze to my son. \u201cGrant?\u201d He refused to meet my eyes. \u201cMom. Please. Not right now.\u201d Fine. I wasn\u2019t going to start a scene on my son\u2019s wedding day. Yet I began noticing details I had previously overlooked. When Grant suggested pausing for a single photo with just the two of us, Vanessa instantly shook her head. \u201cWe simply don\u2019t have time for that.\u201d Grant looked over at me. \u201cMaybe just one\u2014\u201d \u201cGrant. We have a timeline to keep.\u201d He fell silent. During dinner, Grant started telling his uncle all about their honeymoon plans. Vanessa cut him off. \u201cNo, honey. That isn’t what we’re doing anymore. Remember?\u201d A few guests chuckled. Grant managed a laugh too. Yet I watched his face turn crimson. Later on, I pulled him aside. \u201cWhat is going on here?\u201d \u201cNothing.\u201d \u201cNever mind the blue dress. I\u2019m talking about you.\u201d \u201cMom\u2014\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve watched her shut you down the entire day, and you haven’t uttered a word.\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s stressed out. It\u2019s our wedding day.\u201d \u201cGrant, look at me.\u201d He finally did. \u201cAre you truly happy?\u201d For a split second, he looked as though he wanted to confide something in me. Then Vanessa appeared out of nowhere. \u201cThere you are! Grant, seriously? I\u2019ve been searching everywhere. We have a schedule to follow.\u201d She then glanced at me and giggled. \u201cAnd Joan, could you please stop trying to steal my groom?\u201d A couple of people nearby laughed along. Grant didn’t join in. Instead, he followed Vanessa back inside without uttering another word. I stood there for a second, boiling with anger. Part of me wanted to grab my son, pull him outside, and demand once more what on earth was happening. However, this was his wedding. So I headed back to my table and kept my mouth shut. For the next twenty minutes, I watched Vanessa laugh along with her relatives as if nothing were amiss. Grant barely spoke a single word. Then suddenly, I heard the sharp ring of a spoon tapping against a champagne flute. I glanced up. Grant was standing. My heart skipped a beat. Vanessa looked up at him, visibly caught off guard. \u201cI\u2019d like to propose a toast,\u201d Grant announced. He then looked straight at me. And that was when I saw it. Grant was furious. His tie hung loose, his face was flushed red, and he gripped that champagne glass with such force I thought it might shatter. I had never witnessed my calm, quiet son look like that before. And instantly, I knew precisely what was about to happen. I bolted to my feet. \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My boy Grant has forever been the easygoing one. He steers clear of arguments, hardly ever raises his tone, and prefers meeting halfway over turning a disagreement into a battle. Vanessa was far more vocal. I genuinely figured that was why they clicked so well. She coaxed him out of his shell. He seemed to…<\/p>\n