Page 91 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
“That would be double-dealing.”
“Pardon?”
“You can’t be both the groom’s mother and bride’s mother. That would be improper. Do you know that when a couple marries, the bride’s mother gains a son while the groom’s mother’s loses a son? So you can’t be Ivy’s mother. But of course you’ll have duties as the mother of the groom.”
I blink a few times at the utter illogic of what Suji is saying. But she’s stating it with such conviction that it actually sounds like the most natural and reasonable thing in the world.
“No one is going to believe that you’re her real mother,” Mother says finally. “You look nothing alike.”
Oh shit.She’s usually more gracious than this.
Suji smiles serenely. “Neither do you.”
“Perhaps. But at least we’re both white.”
“Skin color matters far less than what’s in your heart. I thought Americans were more progressive about such things.”
Her blandly delivered insult sends a jolt through me. All my life, I’ve never seen anybody treat Mother this way. I’m torn between a strong desire to stop Suji and let her continue. I want to know how far she’ll go. And what it will take before Mother demands I do something, the way she usually asks Father or Edgar or Harry to fix things for her when she’s stuck.
“I don’t care what you think,” Mother says stiffly. “It doesn’t change the fact that you aren’t fit to swoop in and act as Ivy’s mother. What’s important is what the bride thinks.”
Everyone’s head swivels. Ivy takes half a step back.
Time to put a stop to this nonsense.Ivy doesn’t need these two women fighting over her—two dogs with only one scrap of meat between them. I start to step forward.
“I think Yuna’s mom would be better,” Ivy says. “Yuna’s going to be one of my bridesmaids, so it makes sense.”
“Ivy, didn’t you pay attention to a thing I said?” Mother asks, her voice brittle.
I go on full alert. Why is she so concerned about Ivy’s and my wedding? And if she were this worried, why didn’t she come earlier to discuss it? She’s forcing herself into the situation in a way she has to know won’t work.
“I did, and that’s why I think it’s best I ask Mrs. Min for help.”
Suji looks quietly triumphant, while Mother turns an ugly shade of red.
“I see,” Mother says, her voice vibrating with anger. “Well. I hope you don’t regret your decision. If you need extra help, you can always reach out to me.” She gives me an icy look full of contempt. “You should’ve done something about her stubbornness. What have you been filling her head with that she’s reacting like this?”
Then she turns on her heel and stalks out, her strides short and quick.
Silence descends. I put an arm around Ivy, pulling her close, needing the physical contact.
“Well,” Suji says. “Now that we have that settled, let’s talk about when and where the wedding is.”
“Six weeks,” Julie says. “Not that much time.”
Yuna’s mother chortles. “Six weeks is plenty if you know what you’re doing. Let’s get started.”
