Grant froze.
Vanessa stared at me.
Her mother's mouth fell open.
I walked toward my son.
"Mom," he said.
I shook my head.
"Not like this."
The room was silent enough that everyone could hear us.
Vanessa stood.
"What exactly is happening?"
Grant looked at her.
For once, he didn't immediately answer.
I reached him.
"If you're angry," I whispered, "be angry. If something is wrong, say it. But don't say something in front of a hundred people because you're furious and spend the rest of your life wishing you'd said it differently."
Grant swallowed.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Grant, what were you going to say?"
He looked at his new wife.
Then at her mother.
Then at the women wearing blue.
Finally, he set down the champagne glass.
"I need five minutes."
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"You're kidding."
"No."
"We're in the middle of our reception."
"I know."
"Then sit down."
Grant's eyes hardened.
"No."
The room became even quieter.
Vanessa blinked.
I think that one word shocked her more than shouting would have.
Grant walked outside.
I followed.
Vanessa came after us.
The moment the door closed, she turned on him.
"What is wrong with you?"
Grant faced her.
"Why did you tell my mother she couldn't wear blue?"
Vanessa stared.
"This is about the dress?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"It's about everything."
She rolled her eyes.
"Grant, seriously—"
"Stop."
Vanessa went still.
"I need you to stop interrupting me."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Grant took a breath.
"You told my mom she couldn't wear blue because blue was for your family."
"I never said that."
"Your mother did."
Vanessa looked at me.
Then away.
Grant continued.
"You knew what it meant."
"It was just a color."
"Then why couldn't Mom wear it?"
No answer.
"Why couldn't I have one picture with her?"
"We were behind schedule."
"We took fifteen pictures with your mother."
"That's different."
"Why?"
Vanessa's expression changed.
She didn't have an answer that wouldn't reveal the truth.
Grant shook his head.
"You changed our honeymoon without asking me."
"We discussed it."
"No. You told me."
"Because your plan was impractical."
"You changed our first-dance song."
"The other one was depressing."
"You removed Kyle from the head table."
"He makes inappropriate jokes."
"You changed my vows."
"I helped you."
"You rewrote them."
Vanessa stared at him.
And suddenly I realized Grant hadn't exploded because of what happened to me.
My dress had simply been the final drop in a glass that had been filling for months.
Maybe years.
Vanessa's voice softened.
"Grant, I'm trying to make things good for us."
"By deciding everything?"
"Someone has to make decisions."
"I can make decisions."
"Then why don't you?"
That landed.
Grant stared at her.
"Because every time I disagree with you, you make disagreement exhausting."
Vanessa looked wounded.
"That's unfair."
"Maybe it is."
He took another breath.
"But it's how I feel."
Her mother suddenly came through the door.
"There you are. People are waiting."
Vanessa visibly relaxed.
Her mother looked at Grant.
"Whatever this is, you can handle it tomorrow."
Grant gave a humorless laugh.
"That's exactly the problem."
"What?"
"Everyone keeps telling me when I'm allowed to speak."
Vanessa's mother stiffened.
"I think you're being extremely dramatic."
Grant nodded slowly.
"Maybe."
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"But I'm not going back inside until we finish this conversation."
I stepped away.
"This is between you two."
Grant caught my arm.
"Mom."
I looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not standing up for you."
I felt tears immediately.
"Grant..."
"I knew about the blue."
That stopped me.
"What?"
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Grant."
He ignored her.
"I found out yesterday."
My stomach tightened.
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I was going to."
"But?"
He looked ashamed.
"I didn't want another fight."
There it was.
The sentence that explained everything.
Not another fight.
Grant had spent so much time avoiding conflict that he'd slowly surrendered his ability to choose anything.
Including when to defend someone he loved.
I touched his cheek.
"Then that's what you need to fix."
Vanessa whispered, "What about us?"
Grant looked at her.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out."
And for the first time that day, Vanessa had nothing to say.