Chapter 2 - THE PHOTOGRAPHER
The wedding did not continue.
Daniel made that decision before anyone from the venue could ask.
“Stop the ceremony.”
Vanessa turned.
“Daniel—”
“No.”
He looked at the officiant.
“Please.”
The officiant stepped away from the altar.
Daniel then turned toward Mia.
The baby was still calm.
That was the only part of the room that felt remotely under control.
A woman came hurrying through the side entrance.
Mid-thirties.
Dark hair.
Green dress.
Terror on her face.
“Mia.”
Mia turned.
“Mom.”
The woman crossed the aisle quickly but did not snatch the baby from her.
She put both hands gently around Owen first.
“Give him to me.”
Mia did.
The woman settled the baby against her shoulder.
Checked his face.
His arms.
Then looked toward the photographer.
Her expression changed from fear to fury.
“Caleb.”
The photographer finally lowered his camera.
Daniel saw his face.
Mid-forties.
Weathered around the eyes.
No triumph there now.
Only the look of a man realizing the scene he had planned had become uglier than the version in his head.
The woman walked toward him.
“You said you were taking Mia to wait in the bridal lounge.”
Caleb opened his mouth.
She slapped the camera down with one hand—not out of his grip, just away from his face.
“You put her in the aisle?”
“I needed Vanessa to see her.”
“You used my daughter.”
Mia looked down.
Daniel heard that.
So did Vanessa.
Caleb said:
“Julia—”
“No.”
Julia Carter.
Mia's mother.
Owen's mother.
She looked toward Daniel.
“I am sorry.”
Daniel stared.
“For which part?”
“For showing up here at all.”
Then she looked at Vanessa.
Her expression changed.
“Not for that.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Daniel pointed toward Caleb.
“Who are you?”
“Caleb Carter.”
“Relationship?”
“Julia's brother. Mia's uncle.”
“And you're my wedding photographer?”
“Subcontracted through Mercer Event Imaging.”
Daniel looked toward the venue coordinator.
She nodded reluctantly.
Caleb had been booked legitimately.
Not an intruder.
That did not explain the ambush.
Daniel turned back.
“You told Mia Vanessa would remember her.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Because Vanessa met her before.”
Daniel looked at his bride.
Vanessa shook her head.
“Daniel, not here.”
Caleb laughed once.
“That's what she said four years ago.”
Vanessa's eyes snapped toward him.
Julia spoke sharply.
“Caleb, stop.”
He did.
Good.
At least someone could.
Daniel looked at Mia.
“You've met Vanessa?”
Mia nodded.
“How old were you?”
She held up five fingers.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
There.
No confusion anymore.
Daniel's voice lowered.
“Where?”
Mia looked toward her mother.
Julia answered.
“A lawyer's office.”
Vanessa whispered:
“Julia.”
Daniel turned.
“You know her too.”
Vanessa did not answer.
He stepped closer.
“What lawyer?”
Julia stared at Vanessa for several seconds.
Then at Daniel.
“A lawyer who worked for your family.”
Daniel felt something cold move through him.
“What did my family need a lawyer for with Mia?”
Vanessa finally spoke.
“It wasn't about you.”
Caleb said:
“No.”
Everyone looked at him.
For the first time, he lowered the camera completely.
“It was about Aaron.”
May you like
Daniel stopped breathing normally.
His older brother had been dead seven years.
