Clara: Call 911 right now!
Bridesmaid Megan: Clara, what are you saying? Should I call the police on Mark?
Clara: Call them! Tell them there’s been an assault and a break-in!
Mark: Have you completely lost your mind, Clara? A break-in? You’re the one standing here holding clippers over my child!
Clara: Look at her dress, Mark! Look at the back of her dress!
Mark paused, his hand hovering over Lily’s shoulder. He pulled the young girl closer, turning her around. The back of Lily’s white flower-girl dress was torn, smeared with grease, and stuck with small pieces of chewed bubblegum. But more shockingly, red pinch marks lined her small arms.
Lily: She said... she said if I told you, she’d throw my dog away...
Mark: Who said that? Lily, who did this to you?
Clara: Ask your sister. Ask Evelyn standing right behind you.
Mark whirled around to face the doorway. Evelyn was leaning against the frame, her arms crossed, holding an expensive silk handbag. Her face dropped instantly, replacing her subtle smirk with an expression of deep concern.
Evelyn: Mark, don't listen to her! She's panicking because you caught her red-handed. She’s trying to blame me to save her own skin!
Clara: Is that why your manicure is ruined, Evelyn? Is that why you have pink gum stuck under your nails?
Evelyn: You insane little gold-digger! How dare you accuse me!
Mark: Everyone shut up! Lily, look at me. Tell Daddy what happened.
Lily: Aunt Evelyn brought me into the bathroom... she had scissors. She said I looked ugly and that you only loved Clara now.
Mark: What?
Lily: She started cutting my hair and putting gum in it. She told me Clara did it! Then Clara came in and saved me... she tried to fix it with the clippers so I wouldn't look silly...
The air in the bridal suite turned ice-cold. Mark stood frozen, his eyes shifting slowly from his weeping daughter to his sister’s suddenly pale face. The heavy silence was broken only by the hum of the air conditioner and Clara’s steady, quiet breathing as she stood her ground.
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