Chapter Thirty-One #2
Josh gave me the total, including the extra for the additional employees on staff. Seething, I dug out my phone to call Celia.
Only to be brushed off and told she’d be there soon.
Most of the wedding party had already arrived by then, and when the waivers were signed, Josh explained that the staff would show them what to do once we got started.
Twenty minutes later, still no Celia.
I texted my sister.
Ellie: Where are you? We can’t start until the bill is paid.
Celia: I told you we’re on our way. If he can’t wait a few more minutes, pay for it and I’ll pay you back.
Drew purchased a round of drinks for everyone as they waited at the bar for my sister to show up.
Her blatant inconsideration was ridiculous. They’d opened up just for her event.
After another fifteen minutes, I approached Josh, mortified. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s taking her so long.”
Josh glanced at his watch, then at his staff members who were clearly getting agitated.
He sighed. “Look, I’ll tell you what. Your sister’s guests were here on time and they’ve been patient.
I’ll start the event now to be fair to them.
But—” he raised his voice so several guests could hear, “—there’s going to be a late fee added to the bride’s bill, plus the extra time for my staff.
And I’ll need payment from your sister before anyone leaves tonight. This is a business, not a favor.”
Relief and shame warred in my chest. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, but his expression softened slightly. “Just make sure she knows I’m serious about that payment.”
I nodded and after he left asked John and Angie if they wanted to join us.
When it was my turn, I gripped the axe-handle and second-guessed all my life choices.
The staff had demonstrated the various methods of holding the axe and how to throw it, but my nerves still fluttered with unease.
“Why do I feel like this is the start of a true-crime documentary?” I muttered, staring at the wooden target.
Angie laughed beside me. “Relax, it’s just like throwing a really heavy dart.”
“Or a medieval weapon designed for murder,” I shot back, gripping the wood handle tighter.
John, nursing a beer, leaned against the table behind us and smirked. “Don’t overthink it. Just heave it at the bullseye like you’re aiming for Kyle’s face.”
I snorted so hard I nearly dropped the axe. Angie elbowed him but didn’t disagree.
“Here,” Drew said, stepping behind me. His chest brushed my back, his warm hands sliding over mine on the handle. “Keep your grip lower. Feet shoulder-width apart. It’s about control, not force.”
My breath caught. He smelled like the seasonal pumpkin beer and sugar from the kettle corn we’d eaten. His voice in my ear made me want to lean into him.
“Now, deep breath.”
“Pretty sure I just forgot how,” I whispered.
He chucked, low and quiet, and adjusted my elbow. “I’ll help.”
With Drew’s guidance, I threw it, terrified I’d clip him or it would bounce back and hit our feet. Instead, the axe thudded into the outer ring of the target. Nowhere near a bullseye, but it stuck.
Angie whooped. “See? A total natural.”
I grinned and turned to Drew. “That was all you.”
“No,” he said softly, pride flickering in his eyes. “That was you.”
Heat bloomed in my chest, and I quickly turned and busied myself with getting the axe before I did something stupid and climbed him like a tree in public.
Angie sidled closer as I sat down at the table when Drew took his turn, her smile dimming. “Ellie … John and I want to say—we’re sorry.”
I blinked. “For what?”
John rubbed the back of his neck. “For not saying anything. When Celia and Kyle cheated … we knew. We just didn’t want to be the ones to start trouble and we didn’t know how to tell you.”
Angie nodded, shame flickering in her expression. “We should’ve spoken up. You didn’t deserve that.”
My throat tightened. For so long, I’d felt like no one had had my back. Now, standing here with Angie and John looking me in the eye, something inside me cracked open.
“Thank you,” I said and meant it. For once, I felt like I belonged in the room. Like people were starting to see me—not just as Celia’s sister, but as Ellie.
And of course, that was the exact moment Celia swept in with Kyle and our parents trailing behind her. The camera crew fanned out automatically, filming their entrance, red lights blinking.
Her laugh was bright and practiced, already pitched for the microphone to catch her every word. “Sorry we’re late! Did you all miss me?”
The good mood evaporated, replaced by that familiar knot in my stomach. Drew slid his hand into mine, squeezing, like a silent promise: I’ve got you.
Josh stepped directly into Celia’s path before she could make her way further into the room, his expression pleasant, but firm. His voice carried across the space—loud enough for everyone to hear, including the cameras that immediately swiveled toward the confrontation.
“Celia! Glad you’re finally here. I need you to settle your bill before we continue. That’s four hundred and seventy five for the original booking, plus another hundred and fifty in late fees for starting forty-five minutes behind schedule and the extra staff time. I take cash, card, or Venmo.”
Celia’s smile froze. The room went silent. Her eyes darted to the crew, then back to Josh, a flush creeping up her neck. “I—what? Can’t this wait? We’re in the middle of—”
“No ma’am, it can’t wait.” Josh’s tone remained professional, but unyielding.
“This needed to be paid before tonight as stated in our verbal contract and our written one. I’ve already let the event start out of courtesy to your guests who arrived on time.
But I need payment now before we go any further. ”
Kyle stepped forward. “Seriously, dude? You’re really going to do this in front of everyone?”
“I’m really going to run my business, yes,” Josh replied evenly. “Your bride booked a private event and didn’t show up to pay for it. My staff came in on their night off. So yes, I’m going to collect payment.”
“Ellie,” Mom hissed, her voice dripping with disapproval. “Why didn’t you just handle this?”
Several guests shifted uncomfortably.
Josh turned to my mother, one eyebrow raised. “Ma’am with all due respect, Ellie isn’t the bride. She’s not the one who booked tonight. She’s also not the one who showed up late without paying. So maybe direct your frustration at the right person.”
My jaw dropped. Drew’s hand tightened on mine.
Mom’s face turned scarlet. “Excuse me? How dare you speak to me—”
“I dare because I watched your daughter try to call and text her sister multiple times while my staff and I stood around waiting.” Josh crossed his arms. “Ellie’s been nothing but apologetic. She’s not responsible for this mess.”
“He’s right,” Angie spoke up, her voice stronger than I’d ever heard it. “Ellie’s done everything she could to keep tonight on track.”
“For the past hour,” John added, his tone sharp. “Ellie even offered to cover it earlier but that’s not fair nor her responsibility.”
A few guests murmured agreement.
Celia’s face had gone from flushed to pale. She fumbled for her purse, yanking out her wallet with shaking hands. “Fine. Fine. Here.” She thrust a credit card at Josh.
He took it without comment and walked to the register.
The silence that followed was excruciating. Celia wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes. Kyle looked like he wanted to punch something. Mom stared daggers at me, as if this were somehow still my fault.
When Josh returned with the receipt, Celia snatched it from him and spun toward me, her voice shrill. “I hope you’re happy, Ellie. You’ve ruined yet another night.”
The words hit like a slap, but this time they didn’t stick.
Rage flared white-hot. My vision tunneled.
My chest heaved. “Ruined it? By making sure your guests had something to do instead of sitting on their asses waiting for you? I even kept your event from being cancelled. And I didn’t make you look bad, Celia—you did that all on your own by showing up almost an hour late without paying ahead of time. ”
Gasps rippled. Camera lights blinked red.
Take that, asshole! Bad Eleanor cheered.
Mom gasped and turned to my father, whom I had barely spoken to at the dance lesson. “George, tell her she needs to watch her tone when speaking to her sister.”
“Now, Ellie. You know you shouldn’t—” Dad began.
My voice shook, but not from fear. From fury. “And no, Dad—don’t you dare tell me to ‘watch my tone.’ I’m not five. And Celia’s been intentionally horrible to me when all I’ve tried to do is help her.”
“Stop filming!” Celia screeched, waving at the crew. “This is private!”
Angie, bless her, tried to step in. “Your sister has been a big help tonight.”
“Shut up, Angie!” Celia snapped. “If I wanted your opinion—”
At Angie’s hurt gasp, John slammed his drink down. “What the fuck, Celia?”
“Watch your mouth!” Kyle lunged at him, nose to nose. The crew scrambled, cameras still filming from every angle, despite Celia’s demand to stop.
Staff interceded and Josh barked for everyone to put down their axes and take it outside.
My body trembled, rage and humiliation collided, heart drumming in my ears.
This wasn’t just a spat anymore. It was years of being minimized, mocked, and shoved aside.
I sucked in a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and let my words fly.
“You want to play games, Celia? Fine. But I’m done being your punching bag.
And if you think for one second I’m going to keep covering for your screw-ups, you’re wrong.
Keep treating me like this, and I’ll tell Glamma to cancel your party at her house tomorrow. No games. No cameras. Nothing.”
Her shriek rattled the walls. Her eyes, wild. “You wouldn’t!”
I almost laughed at how feral she appeared. With Kyle’s arm holding her back, it looked like she might lunge at me.
“Try me.” My voice was steady, even while my heart galloped.
Today I felt stronger than I had in a long time.
I turned, slid my hand into Drew’s, and didn’t look back.
Fuck my family.
Walking away, I realized my fury wasn’t just anger anymore.
It was clarity.
I couldn’t stop Celia from being who she was, nor my parents for choosing her. But I could stop letting them define me.