PART 3

Patricia crossed her arms.

“I was only trying to make the wedding photographs look beautiful.”

“And now you think the pictures won’t look beautiful because YOU don’t look perfect?”

“That’s different.”

“Why?”

She had no answer.

I stepped closer.

“We’re taking the family photos now. You can join us exactly as you are, or we’ll take them without you.”

Patricia stared at me.

“You would leave the groom’s mother out?”

“No. You’d be choosing to leave yourself out.”

Derek nodded.

“We’re taking the picture, Mom.”

Then Lily walked toward Patricia.

She studied her wet hair.

“You still look pretty, Grandma. Just wet.”

Patricia looked down at her.

Lily touched one of the pale patches on her own arm.

“I still looked pretty before too.”

Patricia’s expression changed.

Then Lily asked the question no adult in the room could have asked as simply.

“Did you think my spots would make the pictures ugly?”

Patricia swallowed.

“No, sweetheart.”

She paused.

“I was wrong.”

Five minutes later, we all stood beneath the trees.

Patricia’s hair was still damp.

My veil was crooked.

Lily’s pink dress had wrinkled.