A glass clinked against a plate.
Then Carson said,
“What was that?”
My father stood so quickly his chair toppled backward.
“What was that?”
He was staring directly at me.
I calmly took a sip of water.
Elise jumped to her feet.
Her voice sounded unnaturally cheerful.
“Okay! Wow. Obviously that was the wrong file. Some stupid joke or something. Let’s just forget it.”
My cousin interrupted her.
“Wait. Was that real?”
Elise froze.
“You actually said that about Carson?”
And just like that, everything began falling apart.
Voices rose around the room.
Guests whispered.
People stared.
My aunt started questioning Mom.
Carson stood up and walked away from the head table.
Elise chased after him.
And I stayed exactly where they had put me.
At the kids’ table.
Still the invisible brother.
Still the family ghost.
Except now everyone could see me.
A few minutes later, the DJ awkwardly tried to continue.
“Okay, everyone, thank you for that… emotional tribute. We’re going to move on to the father-daughter dance.”
“No.”
Dad’s voice cut across the room.
He stood again.
“Turn everything off.”
The DJ froze.
“No more videos. No dance.”
Elise came rushing back inside.
Her mascara was smeared.
Her face was red.
“Where’s Carson?”
A bridesmaid leaned toward her and whispered something.
Elise’s face went pale.
“He’s leaving?”
Mom rushed to calm her.
“He probably just needs some air. Let him cool down.”
