บท 21: Secrets lurking in the air

As the ceremony progressed, Suzanne was acutely aware of the multiple layers of performance happening simultaneously. 

Her parents represented one narrative—concerned family members. Philip embodied another—a business associate maintaining strategic oversight. Father Marcus provided a veneer of traditional legitimacy. She and Andrei, two people obligated to a contract far more intricate than a mere marriage license, were at the heart of it all. 

Philip was the first to stand up when the ceremony's last words were said. "Congratulations," he said to Andrei in a formal tone that was tinged with something more, like a warning or a reminder of unresolved business. 

Her father shook Andrei's hand firmly and strategically. The two guys had a wordless exchange that hinted at lengthy, unresolved conversations. Ruth gave Suzanne a quick but heartfelt embrace. She said the words, "Stay strong," so softly that they appeared and vanished in one sentence.