Page 67 of Break Out

“Stay out of it,” She snaps at Arthur. “These are my children. I’ll deal with them how I see fit.”

“Mother,” Thad growls, glaring at her. I stare at my brother—he’s never been one to raise his voice.

“Go back to your phone, Thaddeus. No one wants to hear what you have to say,” She bites out.

“Beatrice!” Arthur snaps, grabbing my mother by the arm and practically dragging her away toward the hotel entrance.

Bri and I exchange looks, her mouth hanging open. I’m sure I look just as shocked. Holy fuck. I have never known Arthur to be anything but calm, timid, and submissive to Mother, so to see this side of him is great, actually.

“Are you okay?” Brody asks. All I can do is nod. Chet pulls Clara, who appears to be near tears, her face red, her chin shaking into him and wraps his arms around her. She buries her head in his chest. He leans down and whispers something to her.

“What the fuck,” Bri says, finally breaking the silence.

Thad shakes his head. “This is ridiculous. I don’t know what’s gotten into her.” He turns to Clara. “I’m going to go talk to her. Someone’s got to talk some sense into her, and I don’t know that Arthur’s up for the job. At least not alone.” With that, he turns and walks back toward the hotel.

Better him than me.

“I wanted to have a few things the way I wanted them, and this is what happens . . .” Clara says, pulling back from Chet so she can speak. “I don’t know why I bother anymore. She’s going to overrule everything we want.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice cracking. And here I’d always thought I was the only one Mother treated poorly.

“It’s not your fault. Either of you,” Bri says, glancing at me before turning to Clara. “We’ve got your back, Clara. Whatever you need.”

“I’m sorry, Clara. If I’d known this was how it was going to turn out, I wouldn’t have let her pay for the wedding,” Chet says.

Clara takes a deep breath before looking over to where the rest of the bridal party is huddled with Maggie, their backs to us. “We should probably get the rehearsal started if we’re going to make dinner.”

“Clara, is any of this what you wanted? What did you and Chet want from your wedding?” At this point, I have no idea how much of this week was at Mother’s insistence and how much of it was what Clara and Chet wanted. I know Clara is unhappy with her wedding dress and the parading around Key West we did the other day, but I assumed she was okay with everything else. I mean, she has to be, right? It’s her wedding day. I can’t see her letting Mother dominate all of it.

Clara slips her hand into Chet’s, and they exchange a look before she turns her attention back to me.

“Kind of. Do I wish there were less guests? Yes. We wanted an intimate beach wedding.” She nods her head at everyone around us. “This isn’t exactly what we wanted, but at least we’re getting married on the beach. A lot of the other things that Mom insisted on we couldn’t care less about, so we let her do it. But I couldn’t stand the set up for the ceremony. What she wanted was hideous.”

“As long as you both are happy. Because if you aren’t”—I glance at Bri, and she dips her chin in agreement, indicating we’re on the same page—“we could easily call this whole thing off. You two could get married the way you want to. When you want to.”

“It’s okay. We’ll make the best of it,” Clara says.

Chet grins down at Clara. “As long as Clara’s happy, I’m happy. But, babe, if this isn’t what you want, we can postpone it.”

“I want to be married to you,” Clara mumbles, staring up at Chet.

“Well then. Let’s get the show on the road.” I step out of Brody’s arms, grab his hand, and walk toward Maggie and the rest of the wedding party.

Maggie sees us approach and announces that the rehearsal will start now.

“You okay?” Brody whispers.

I shrug because I don’t know. I feel like everything I thought I knew about Clara and her relationship with our mother is incorrect. Part of me is angry that Clara didn’t tell me before what was really going on, and part of me is relieved that it isn’t me feeling our mother’s wrath. I don’t have time to explain that to Brody, though, as Maggie whisks me away to my spot in line to walk down the aisle.

We run through the ceremony once, and as we’re lining up to go through it one last time, Arthur comes striding out of the hotel, making his way to Maggie. I can’t hear what he whispers to her, but she glances at the rest of us before replying.

Arthur nods at Maggie’s response and walks over to Clara who he speaks to in hushed tones. I wish I could hear what they are saying. Bri catches my eye and inclines one shoulder as if to say she’s as confused as I am. Arthur hugs Clara before walking over to Bri. My brows knit together as they exchange words, and soon, he’s making his way to me.

“Aubrey, darling,” he says, putting a hand on my arm. “I want to apologize for how your mom reacted earlier. She’s not feeling like herself today and won’t be coming to dinner tonight. I’m going to stay here and take care of her. But you all go and have a good time.”

I arch a brow at him before saying, “That was inexcusable behavior, Arthur. She should be apologizing. Not you. You have nothing to apologize for.”

He heaves out a breath. “I know, Aubrey girl. But, unfortunately, that’s not how things work with your mom, is it?” He stares at me for a moment before adding, “Things are not always as they seem.”