FOR A MOMENT, I FORGOT EVERYTHING
She was beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful.
And suddenly, I didn’t see the woman who had asked me to stay home.
I saw the little girl who used pillowcases as wedding veils.
The child who once walked through our hallway carrying a bouquet made from grocery receipts.
The six-year-old who made me promise:
“Mommy, you have to sit in the very front at my wedding.”
I had promised.
Now I was hidden in the last pew.
Sophie walked down the aisle.
At the altar stood Adrian.
It was the first time I had ever seen him.
Tall.
Dark hair.
Obviously nervous.
When Sophie reached him, his face softened immediately.
He took her hands.
Then his eyes moved past her.
Toward the back of the chapel.
Toward me.
His smile vanished.
His face went completely pale.
ADRIAN WALKED AWAY FROM THE ALTAR
I froze.
Adrian leaned toward the officiant and whispered something.
Sophie frowned.
Then Adrian released her hands.
And started walking down the aisle.
Straight toward me.
Two hundred guests turned to watch.
“Adrian?”
Sophie called after him.
He didn’t stop.
My heart hammered.
When Adrian reached the last pew, he stared at me like he had seen someone come back from the dead.
“Is it really you?”
I blinked.
“I’m sorry?”
He stepped closer.
“Oh my God.”
“I think you have me confused with someone else.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“No, I don’t.”
By then Sophie had hurried down the aisle.
“What are you doing?”
Adrian turned toward her.
“This is your mother?”
Sophie’s face changed.
“Adrian…”
“Your mother?”
“Yes.”
He looked toward my seat.
“Why is she sitting back here?”
Sophie froze.
So I answered.
“I wasn’t invited.”
Adrian turned sharply toward me.
“What?”
Sophie whispered:
“Mom.”
I held up the velvet box.
“I only came to leave her something.”
The usher was still nearby.
I handed him the box.
“I wasn’t planning to stay.”
Adrian stared at Sophie.
“You didn’t invite your mother to our wedding?”
“It’s complicated.”
His expression tightened.
But at that point, he seemed more confused than angry.
Then he looked back at me.
“I’m Adrian.”
I almost smiled.
“I gathered.”
He actually laughed once.
Then his eyes filled with tears.
That confused me even more.
Without explaining, he gently offered his arm.
“Would you please come with me?”
Sophie whispered:
“Adrian, don’t.”
He looked at her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
