“Not yet,” Holly said.
“Give them until noon tomorrow to replace every dollar themselves.”
The words settled over the kitchen with more force than shouting ever could.
Dean stood across from her, one hand braced against the back of a chair.
Through the speakerphone came the faint rustle of people shifting, whispering, calculating.
Diane had expected tears, accusations, perhaps a dramatic threat she could dismiss as emotional.
She had not expected a deadline.
The catering coordinator cleared her throat.
“To be precise, Mrs.
Jasper, the authorization must be restored by twelve o’clock tomorrow or the event team will be released.
Once that happens, I cannot guarantee they will still be available.”
“Holly,” Diane said, forcing sweetness into her voice, “we are family.
You cannot hold a wedding hostage because your feelings were hurt.”
Holly looked toward the hallway leading to Alex’s room.
Her feelings were not the issue.
Her daughter had stood beneath bright fitting-room lights while four adults discussed her face as if she were a defective decoration.
“This is not about my feelings,” Holly said.
“It is about what you did to Alex.”
“We made a photography decision,” Kelsey snapped from somewhere near Diane.
“Children get disappointed.
They recover.”
Holly’s fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
“Then you should have no trouble recovering from a budget change.”
Dean closed his eyes.
Diane’s voice sharpened.
“Put my son on the phone.”
The phone was already on speaker, but Dean still stepped closer as if summoned physically.
“Mom—”
“Tell your wife to stop this.”
Holly watched the old reflex move through him.
His shoulders lowered.
His face tightened with the dread of a boy who had spent his life learning that peace meant giving Diane what she wanted.
“Holly,” he began, “maybe we should talk before making anything final.”
“We are talking.”
“Privately.”
“Your mother made the decision in front of Alex.
The consequences do not need privacy.”
The coordinator spoke again.
“I should also clarify that the funds belong to Jasper Home Manufacturing until final release.
Mrs.
Jasper is not withdrawing money from the couple.
She is declining to complete a voluntary payment from her business account.”
That distinction silenced everyone for several seconds.
Then Logan exploded.
“You told us it was covered! We invited 180 people based on that!”
“You told me you would repay it after the wedding,” Holly said.
“Everyone says that.
It was family helping family.”
“Family does not use a six-year-old until a prettier child becomes available.”
The line went quiet again.
A second call appeared on Holly’s laptop.
The venue manager was requesting access to the conference.
Holly clicked accept.
“Ms.
Jasper,” the manager said, “I received notice that the catering authorization may be withdrawn.
