Then my mother opened the second suitcase. Inside, arranged with perfect precision, lay the gold jewelry Brent's family had sent as betrothal gifts.
At the sight of the gold, Brent and his mother exchanged a glance. Something strange flickered across their faces.
But it vanished in an instant.
My mother continued warmly:
"This is the million-dollar cash dowry we've prepared for Miranda, along with your family's gold betrothal gifts—all of it's here."
"We're handing everything over to the young couple today, to give their new household a solid foundation."
Brent waved his hands hastily, even switching to a more familiar address:
"Mom, that gold was our gift to Mira. There's no need to bring it back."
I saw right through his little scheme.
He wanted the gold to stay in my possession so he could later accuse me of swapping it for fakes.
But my mother shook her head:
"That won't do. Since it was given to Miranda, it belongs to both of you now. It should stay in your home together."
"Besides, we'll need to display it again at the wedding ceremony. We're getting older—our hands aren't as steady as they used to be. It would be terrible if we accidentally damaged something."