“I won’t come.”
That was another answer.
I nodded.
“All right.”
Lauren finally looked up.
“Really?”
After she left, I poured the unfinished coffee down the sink. Her cup still had lipstick on the rim.
“I won’t come.”
Relief crossed her face.
That hurt worst of all.
After she left, I poured the unfinished coffee down the sink. Her cup still had lipstick on the rim.
I stood there longer than I’d like to admit, staring at it and wondering how my daughter had become someone who could erase me from the biggest day of her life.
Then I opened the drawer where I kept my mother’s pearl locket.
***
On the morning of the wedding, I stayed home until nearly noon.
Then I opened the drawer where I kept my mother’s pearl locket.
My mother had worn it at her wedding.
I had worn it at mine.
Lauren used to ask about it when she was little.
So I put it in a small velvet box and drove to the church.
“Can I wear it when I get married?”
“Absolutely.”
So I put it in a small velvet box and drove to the church.
I had no intention of staying.
Outside, people in expensive clothes moved toward the entrance.
“You’re Lauren’s mother?”
I found an usher.
“Could you give this to the bride?”
He checked the label.
“You’re Lauren’s mother?”
My throat tightened.
Before he could ask why, the organ began playing.
“Yes.”
“You aren’t coming inside?”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
Before he could ask why, the organ began playing.
The church doors opened.
There were white roses everywhere.
I should have left.
Instead, I slipped inside.
There were white roses everywhere.
Every pew was full.
I sat in the back, partly hidden behind a tall arrangement.
I saw the little girl who used to wear pillowcases as wedding veils.
Then Lauren appeared.
She was beautiful.
For one second, I forgot everything.
I saw the little girl who used to wear pillowcases as wedding veils.
I remembered fastening plastic beads around her neck while she practiced walking down our hallway with a bouquet made from grocery-store receipts. Back then, she’d made me promise I would sit right in front.
That was the first time I ever saw him.
Lauren walked down the aisle without looking back.
At the altar stood Ethan.
That was the first time I ever saw him.
He was tall, dark-haired, and visibly nervous.
When Lauren reached him, his face softened.
Then his eyes moved past her.
He took her hands.
Then his eyes moved past her.
He saw me.
His smile vanished.
His whole face went pale.
Ethan whispered something to the officiant.
I froze.
Ethan whispered something to the officiant.
Lauren frowned.
Then Ethan released her hands.
He walked down the aisle.
When he reached me, he stared as if he had seen a ghost.
Straight toward me.
Two hundred guests turned to watch.
Lauren called, “Ethan?”
He didn’t stop.
When he reached me, he stared as if he had seen a ghost.
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone.”
“Is that really you?”
I blinked.
“I’m sorry?”
He looked closer.
“Oh my God.”
Lauren hurried toward us.
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“No, I haven’t.”
Lauren hurried toward us.
Lauren’s face changed.
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