He was silent for several seconds.
Finally, he said, “Find Lily another dress. Whatever she wants.”
“And Ida?”
“I’ll handle my mother.”
“Please don’t make this worse.”
His voice softened.
“Lily is my daughter. Now take care of her. I’ve got everything else.”
Lily chose a simple ivory dress with tiny embroidered flowers.
As she changed, she looked at me nervously.
“Is Glen still going to be my Dad?”
My heart broke.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
She nodded.
But she didn’t call him Dad again that morning.
When we arrived at the venue, Glen was waiting.
He knelt in front of Lily.
“You look beautiful.”
“Grandma Ida ruined my dress.”
“I know.”
He hugged her.
“But nothing is going to ruin today.”
Then he looked at me.
“Trust me.”
I noticed Ida sitting in the front row.
She wore a burgundy dress and watched Lily with unmistakable disapproval.
The ceremony began.
Lily walked down the aisle scattering petals, exactly as she’d practiced.
Then I walked toward Glen.
He took my hands.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered.
The ceremony ended.
We were married.
But Glen wasn’t finished.
At the reception, all two hundred guests were seated when Glen stepped toward the microphone.
He looked directly at his mother.
“Mom, would you please look down at your feet?”
Ida frowned.
Beside her chair was an envelope.
She picked it up and opened it.
Her smile disappeared.
