Chapter 2

Daniel smiled into the microphone, his posture relaxed and easy.

"Everybody, relax. We're testing material for Vale Bridal's new heritage campaign."

A scatter of polite applause moved through the room, led by Daniel's golf partners near the front. Harper offered a modest smile for the lens.

Daniel looked at me off-mic, his eyes steady. "See?" he whispered. "It's work."

I stepped up onto the first stair. "Take it off."

Daniel lowered the microphone slightly. "Claire, please."

"Now."

Harper touched the silk at her waist. "I understand you're attached to it," she said. "But Daniel thought using the original gown would show where the brand started."

"I know where the brand started." I took another step. "Take it off."

Daniel shifted his weight to block my path. "Harper brought a camera crew here on her own time. She's helping us reach people we haven't been reaching."

"Then she can do it in another dress."

His smile flickered. "You're making this personal."

"It is personal."

I reached out and caught the lower hem of the gown. The moment I touched the fabric, I knew something was wrong.

I lifted the silk edge toward the light. My mother had used waxed cotton thread on every hand-finished edge. This thread was clear, cheap nylon.

This alteration hadn't been done an hour ago. The dress had been tailored days in advance.

"What did you alter?" I asked.

Daniel let out a sigh. "Nothing important."

I ran my thumb along the side seam. The waist had been cut open and machine-tapered. Then my fingers brushed the interior lining near the hip—where the pocket used to be.

My mother had sewn a tiny hidden pocket inside the lining. Inside were two spare freshwater pearl buttons. I had saved them for Ellie. One day, I planned to sew those two spare pearls inside her veil for luck.

The interior pocket had been cut open with scissors. It was empty.

I looked up at Daniel. "Where are the spare pearls?"

"What pearls?"

"The two spare buttons inside the lining."

He frowned. "I don't know, Claire."

"You opened the dress."

"We adjusted the fit."

"You cut into my mother's work."

Harper shifted uncomfortably. "One of the stylists removed some loose pieces during the fitting yesterday."

"Where did she put them?"

"I don't know."

Ellie had walked up behind me, her heels clicking against the wood. "What pieces, Mom?"

I looked back at my daughter. "The two spare pearls Nana saved inside the lining."

Ellie's face went pale. "The ones for my veil?"

"Yes."

Daniel exhaled through his nose. "They're buttons. We can replace them."

Ellie stared at him. "They were Nana's."

"I know that."

"No, Dad. I don't think you do."

Daniel glanced back down at the dining room. The guests had gone silent. No one was pretending this was a campaign anymore.

He raised the microphone back to his mouth, his face composed once more. "Okay. Everyone, this is exactly why I wanted tonight to be about looking forward."

I knew this version of Daniel—the calm voice, the warm smile, turning my grief into the problem.

Daniel turned toward the tables. "Vale Bridal has spent years protecting its history," he announced. "But a business can't live in the past forever."

Harper stood beside him, framing herself for her camera.

Daniel smiled down at the room. "Our daughter is starting a new chapter tonight. And so is the studio."

I looked at him. "What does that mean?"

He didn't answer me. He lifted his glass toward the crowd.

"And since everyone we care about is already here, I think this is the perfect time to share one more surprise."