Chapter 13 - THE WEDDING VENUE WITHOUT A WEDDING
The resort where Scott and Vanessa planned to marry refused full deposit refund.
Some charges were recoverable.
Some not.
Vanessa absorbed her share.
Scott’s payments traced to house proceeds returned to escrow where possible.
Months later, the venue contacted Evelyn.
They had a date cancellation credit transferable under contract.
Did she want to use it?
Evelyn stared.
Absolutely not.
Then she laughed.
She transferred the credit, where legally allowed, to a nonprofit fundraiser through negotiated settlement.
No symbolic revenge party.
Good.
Then Vanessa moved away.
Not dramatically.
Accepted a job in Chicago.
Before leaving, she met Evelyn once.
Coffee.
No friendship performance.
Vanessa said:
“I used to think you were boring.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Thank you.”
“I mean it as a compliment now.”
“Dangerous.”
Vanessa looked down.
“I liked Scott because he made everything feel like we were about to become important.”
Evelyn understood.
“Were you unhappy?”
“Yes.”
“With what?”
“My normal life.”
There.
Status hunger.
Scott did not create it.
He fed it.
Then Vanessa asked:
“Do you hate me?”
“Sometimes.”
“Fair.”
“Do you hate me?”
Vanessa smiled.
“Less.”
Good.
Then:
“I’m sorry I laughed when he told you the wedding wasn’t cheap.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I remember.”
“Of course you do.”
Neither asked forgiveness.
Then Vanessa left.
Evelyn went home to her new apartment.
Not large.
Furniture slowly replacing what Scott sold.
Some new.
Some recovered.
Some gone.
The empty house had taught her something strange.
Possessions mattered most when someone else decided they did not.
So she chose carefully now.
Her father’s print.
The wooden jewelry box.
May you like
One ugly lamp Scott hated.
That lamp stayed.
