The morning sun spilled through the blinds, casting golden strips across the guest room ceiling. Valerie looked at the small pink dress she had ironed the night before hung near the closet, like it was waiting to be worn. The thought of mingling with people she hadn't seen in years made her stomach twist. For the first time since she arrived. She realized that there would be a possibility that she would cross paths with her father was very high. After all his brother was Tamara's father.
But today wasn't about her, it was Tamara's day.
Valerie slipped into her dress and got herself and Andre ready before stepping out to see Tamara. Valerie padded barefoot into the hallway, greeted by the distant sounds of laughter, heels clacking, and stylists working. The whole apartment buzzed with energy.
Tamara was in the mirror when Valerie entered her room, she was halfway into her lace gown, her hair curled and pinned into place. Her eyes caught Valerie's through the reflection.
"Morning," Tamara said, voice soft but beaming. "How'd you sleep?"
"Well enough." Valerie came closer. "You look… unreal."
Tamara laughed lightly. "I look like I'm holding my breath."
Valeri grinned, that's part of the bridal glow.
They both laughed, and for a moment, it felt like old times when things were simple. When Valerie still thought the worst thing in the world was a failed school project or a heartbreak.
Tamara turned around suddenly. "Hey, how's Andre doing this morning?"
Valerie smiled. "Excited to see you in a gown. He's been asking questions about flower petals and seating charts since dawn."
Tamara chuckled. "He's precious, Val. Honestly, I don't know how you've raised such a grounded, brilliant kid."
Valerie glanced down briefly, "I take it slowly, one day at a time"
There was a pause. Then Tamara nodded, reaching over and squeezing her hand, "You're doing amazing, and just for today, no heavy thoughts. Just good food, drinks and maybe a hot groomsman or two" Tamara winked.
"Don't jinx it" Valerie laughed.
A soft knock on the door interrupted them, followed by a stylist peeking in. "Time to start heading to the venue"
Tamara turned toward the mirror again, her expression softening. "Let's do this."
As they left the room, Valerie caught her own reflection in the mirror. The fitted black dress hugged her just enough to be elegant. Her makeup was simple, soft blush, and a rose lipstick. She looked like a woman who had lived and not someone who was thrown out.
****
The morning of the wedding started like any other for Damian Wayne. He had his morning coffee and was putting on a perfectly tailored suit. Weddings weren't exactly his thing. It included too much smiles and too much greetings. And way too much champagne. But this was family and Anthony was his cousin and he genuinely respected Anthony asides their relation.
He adjusted his cufflinks in the mirror of his penthouse suite, his mind running through the schedule his assistant texted him earlier. It had taken his recent assistant way too long to adjust to his ways after he fired his last assistant six years ago for being incompetent. It was something he didn't want to remember. It had taken him too long to forget and he wasn't revisiting the thought.
The wedding venue was elegant. It was lined with draped archways and there was a live string band. He liked it, it was classy. People moved about in carefully curated outfits, and magnificent designer wears. It was the wedding of two wealthy families, what would he have expected. He hadn't known much about Anthony's wife's family but he knew they were quite wealthy.
Damian moved quietly, avoiding small talk as much as he could. He was turning around a corner, scrolling through his phone to find his cousin and brother, when he felt something small bump into him. It was a small body.
Damian's phone nearly slipped out of his hand. He looked down instinctively. He wasn't sure what he was expecting but he thought the child would panic and mumble an apology or run away perhaps. But this boy stood there, still and wide-eyed.
Damian stared at him, and for the first time in a while, he felt his breath caught up in his throat. The little boy had eyes that mirrored his own, not just in color but in the way they narrowed. The facial expression and his jawline. It was like he was looking into a mirror he didn't know existed.
They stared at each other in absolute silence.
"Sorry," the boy said at last, his voice soft but firm, polite.
Damian opened his mouth to respond but nothing came out.
The boy blinked once, stepped aside, and continued down the hallway like nothing had happened.
Damian turned slightly to watch him go, something twisting in his gut. The encounter was so brief, so seemingly unimportant, but the feeling didn't go away. He watched as a slightly tall woman took quick steps towards the little boy. He couldn't see her face but by his response, he knew her and they were evidently close.
***
The reception buzzed around her. Valerie's cheeks flushed with happiness as she swayed to the music with Andre's hand in hers. Then there was a laugh, a familiar laugh.
"Well, isn't this a surprise." the voice said coming towards them.
Slowly she turned around and there they were. Her father, whose hair had streaks of grey strands, stood there in a grey suit. He had the same stiff posture he carried. Paige, her stepmother surprisingly didn't look like she had aged a bit, with her cold eyes and glossy lips. And Ashley, she stood eyeing Valerie up to down. She didn't look okay and Valerie could tell.
Valerie swallowed, "What are you doing here?" she already knew.
"It's a family wedding duh" Ashley rolled her eyes
"Anthony's mother and I used to work together" Paige said with a wink. "Small world isn't it?"
She didn't reply.
Paige gave her a look, "You've grown. Didn't expect to see you here of all places. We heard you… left town."
Valerie's eyes narrowed. "You made sure of that", remember?
Her father's nostrils flared, but he said nothing.
Ashley rolled her eyes. "Still dramatic, I see."
"You don't get to show up here and pretend we are family" Valerie spat.
Andre watched as his mother grew disgusted. She pulled him behind her as she felt his hand squeeze hers.
Her father stepped closer. "I see you've got a child now. Where is his father? Out of wedlock, no doubt. What would your mother think?"
"She'd be proud I survived" Valerie snapped.
A throat cleared behind Valerie.
"Wait…" her father muttered, confusion clouding his face as he looked behind Valerie and his eyes rested on Andre..
Paige blinked rapidly, eyes narrowing with calculation. "Is that…?"
Ashley looked between them, mouth agape.
"Oh," Paige whispered, her voice oddly strained, "We didn't know he was uhm, your partner"
Valerie turned around sharply, still confused. She stiffened and her eyes went wide as she took in the tall man that was standing behind her.
She turned sharply towards them, "What are you talking about…?"
She turned around again. Her eyes meeting his, she was staring at Andre's eyes. Then it hit her. They thought that was Andre's father.
"You're with him?" Paige asked, her voice a mixture of disbelief and suddenly forced respect. "Damian Wayne?"
The color drained from her father's face, and his shoulders straightened in awkward formality. "Well, perhaps we were too harsh earlier. We didn't know your situation had uhm, changed." He said as they talked away slowly, Paige murmuring something into Ashley's ear.
Valerie blinked rapidly and looked at Damian. "You're Damian?"