Chapter 10: Rehearsal Dinner

The rehearsal dinner went live at seven that evening.

Vivienne had posted the link in the family group with a row of hearts and a note: for those who can't be with us tonight.

I sat on Ruth's sofa with the laptop on a cushion and a blanket across my knees.

Ruth sat beside me with a bowl of popcorn between us.

"I won't say a word," she said. "I'll only chew."

The camera showed a private room above a restaurant in the North End, with long tables and candles and a view of the harbor lights.

Vivienne's father stood at the head of the first table, a broad silver-haired man with a loud laugh.

Clay was beside him in a navy suit with his hand around a glass.

Vivienne sat at his left, in a pale green dress, smiling at the room.

Hugh was at the second table, with his back straight and his phone beside his plate.

The chat scrolled by under the video.

His cousin wrote: "Where's Leona? Oh right."

Another one: "Imagine being kept a mile away from a free dinner."

"Stop," Ruth said calmly, and ate a piece of popcorn.

At seven-forty the door at the back of the room opened.

Ansel came in.

He wore a dark suit I had never seen, and no tie.

He stopped just inside the door and looked down the length of the room.

The conversations ended one table at a time.

Vivienne's father said, "And who is this?" with a great welcoming boom.

"Ansel Winslow," Ansel said. "I'm Clay's brother."

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