The wedding I wasn’t invited to
Part One: The Discovery
“You can’t come, Mariana. My mother isn’t well and I’d rather avoid complicating things.”
That’s how Javier left their apartment one Thursday morning, explaining that he had to join his family in San Miguel.
Mariana naturally offered to accompany him.
— I can take a day off work and come with you.
But Javier refused.
— The house will be full of relatives. It’s better if you stay here.
This answer hurt her. For six years, she had done everything she could to be accepted by her in-laws despite the tensions that had existed since the beginning of their marriage.
After he left, she happened to find a forgotten document in his jacket pocket: a quote for a large wedding reception accompanied by a note indicating that the balance had to be paid before the wedding of Paola, Javier’s sister.
Surprised, Mariana immediately phoned her husband.
— How is your mother?
— She is resting.
— May I speak to him?
A silence fell.
— That’s not possible at the moment.
The call ended quickly.
