Everything is You. Donna Hill

scurried in disarray. All she could see was the look that her brother had thrown her way. It blocked out everything else.

      And then the bridal party was walking back down the aisle. The new husband and wife glowed with the love that gleamed from their eyes for each other. The immediate family followed, beaming with smiles and waving and nodding at the guests who flanked them. Branford was mere footsteps away from her. He hesitated a moment, reached toward her and gently tugged her into the aisle.

      He pulled her close, holding her by the elbow, never losing the proud father expression as he spoke to her from between clenched teeth. “What are you doing here?”

      Jacqueline kept her face averted from prying eyes behind her dark glasses and wide-brimmed hat that swept as far as her shoulders and dipped low over her eyes.

      “I came to see my niece get married.”

      “No one invited you, I’m sure of that.”

      They stepped out of the church into the blazing afternoon and the throng of enthusiastic guests.

      “Lee Ann invited me.”

      His head snapped toward her. His jaw clenched. “I won’t have you causing any problems.”

      They descended the stairs.

      “Give your congratulations and then I want you gone. You drew the line between us years ago, Jacqueline.” He turned toward her. His eyes burned with something she couldn’t quite place; anger, disappointment, hurt, she couldn’t be sure.

      Her chest tightened in pain. What made her think anything could be different between them, even after all this time? She didn’t, not really. Yet, there was a part of her that held out a thin thread of hope. He’d just snapped it in half.

      “Don’t worry, brother dear, I have no intentions of being anything other than cordial. This is Desiree’s day.” She gently pulled away from his grip and continued down the steps.