Mia stared directly at Donna.
“Because someone who loves me won’t care whether I walk or roll toward him.”
People started standing again.
This time nearly the entire room.
Donna’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Mia held the microphone tighter.
“But Aunt Donna…”
The applause faded.
“I think maybe you should stop worrying about who catches the flowers.”
Donna’s face turned crimson.
Mia’s next words landed softly.
“You should worry about becoming somebody worth catching.”
For one heartbeat, there was silence.
Then the ballroom exploded.
Every chair seemed to scrape backward at once.
Guests stood.
They clapped.
They cheered.
One of Claire’s bridesmaids whistled through her fingers.
Ben’s brother shouted, “Mia!”
Others picked it up.
“Mia!”
“Mia!”
“Mia!”
My daughter stared around in disbelief.
She had expected to defend herself.
She had not expected an ovation.
Then her face changed.
The smile returned.
Not the little smile she used when she was trying to convince me she was okay.
