Chapter 6 - VICTORIA’S WEDDING
Celeste’s daughter Victoria was the bride.
Twenty-nine.
Intelligent.
Kind.
Exhausted by her mother.
She loved Grace.
That mattered.
Grace was not flower girl.
Victoria had no children in the ceremony.
She invited Grace as family and sent her a handwritten note:
Wear something green so we match the garden flowers.
Grace chose her dress months ahead.
Allison called the wedding caterer personally.
The caterer, Palais Dining, had an excellent allergy program.
Dedicated prep area.
Colored service markers under plates rather than visible top flags.
Separate dessert cover.
Named server.
Emergency plan.
The wedding planner, Laurel Price, copied everyone.
Grace’s meal would look nearly identical to other children’s meals.
Safe.
Celeste still objected.
Email:
Why does one seven-year-old require a six-person thread?
Laurel:
Because it is a severe allergy.
Celeste:
I want no purple flags or medical signage visible in photography.
Laurel:
Marker will be under plate and invisible to guests.
Celeste:
Fine.
Then:
No staff announcing “allergy meal” at table.
Laurel:
Server will quietly confirm with Grace or her parent.
Celeste:
She should not be asked. She’s a child.
Allison replied:
She should always be able to ask whether food is safe.
Celeste removed Allison from the thread.
Laurel added her back.
May you like
That tiny act became relevant later.
Professionals often see family pressure clearly because they are not emotionally trained to call it normal.
