I froze.
Ethan whispered something to the officiant.
Lauren frowned.
Then Ethan released her hands.
He walked down the aisle.
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.
“Is that really you?”
I blinked.
“I’m sorry?”
He looked closer.
“Oh my God.”
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“No, I haven’t.”
Lauren hurried toward us.
“What are you doing?”
Ethan looked at her.
“This is your mother?”
“Ethan, please.”
“Why is she sitting back here?”
Lauren froze.
I answered before she could.
“I wasn’t invited.”
Ethan turned to me.
“What?”
Lauren whispered, “Mom.”
“I only came to leave her something.”
I held up the velvet box.
I handed the box to the usher standing awkwardly beside me.
Ethan stared at Lauren.
“You didn’t invite your mother?”
“It’s complicated.”
His expression tightened, but he still looked more bewildered than furious.
Then he turned back to me.
“I’m Ethan.”
“I gathered.”
He actually laughed once.
Then his eyes filled with tears.
Before I understood what was happening, he gently took my arm.
“Would you come with me?”
Lauren whispered, “Ethan, don’t.”
He looked at her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Ethan led me toward the altar.
My legs felt weak.
When we reached the front, he faced the guests.
The church had gone completely silent.
“Before we continue, I need to say something.”
Then he looked directly at Lauren.
“Especially to my bride.”
Lauren looked terrified.
Ethan pointed toward me.
“Your mother is the reason my family still has a home.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
A woman in the front row suddenly stood.
She was crying.
She walked toward me slowly.
“Margaret?”
I recognized her only after she said my name.
