Chapter 4 — “Claire, Your Seat Is Still Here”
Michael waited until Emma was asleep before watching the wedding recording.
He expected memories.
He found something else.
The videographer had recorded hours of footage that never appeared in the edited wedding film.
Guests arriving.
Decorations being adjusted.
Rebecca laughing with bridesmaids.
Then, approximately forty minutes before the ceremony, Rebecca appeared alone near the entrance.
She was already wearing her wedding dress.
She looked toward the parking lot.
A bridesmaid approached.
“Still nothing?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“Mom isn’t coming.”
“Claire?”
Rebecca looked toward the empty road.
“She said she would try.”
Michael leaned closer to the screen.
Rebecca continued.
“I told her she doesn’t have to choose sides.”
Then she looked almost directly toward the camera.
“Claire, if you ever see this, your seat is still here.”
Michael paused the video.
For years, Claire claimed Michael excluded her from the wedding.
But Rebecca clearly expected her.
Then another piece of footage appeared.
A car pulled into the venue parking lot.
Michael recognized it.
Helen’s old silver sedan.
It stopped near the far entrance.
A young woman got out.
Claire.
Michael stared.
She had come.
Claire stood beside the car for almost three minutes.
She looked toward the venue.
Then her phone rang.
She answered.
The camera was too far away for audio.
But her body language changed immediately.
Claire began crying.
She got back into the car.
Then drove away.
Michael had never seen that footage.
And judging by everything Rebecca had said…
she hadn’t seen Claire arrive either.
Michael rewound.
Watched again.
The following morning, he called Claire.
“I know you came to the wedding.”
Silence.
Then Claire whispered:
“How?”
“The video.”
Claire went quiet.
Michael asked:
“Who called you in the parking lot?”
Claire began crying.
“Mom.”