Nothing did.
She told stories about sharing a bedroom with Emma.
Stealing her sweaters.
Calling her from college whenever she felt homesick.
She made us laugh.
She made Emma cry.
Then she sat down.
I actually relaxed.
Maybe she had listened to me.
Maybe the rest of the night would be peaceful.
I was wrong.
After the cake was cut and Emma and Michael finished their first dance, the DJ picked up his microphone.
“And now we’d like to invite the bride and her father to the dance floor.”
Tom stood.
Emma stood too.
Then—
“Wait.”
Sophie’s voice came through the speakers.
Every person in the ballroom turned.
She was standing beside the DJ.
Holding the microphone.
Emma froze.
“Sophie,” I said.
Too late.
“Before they do this, there’s something everyone should know.”
Tom’s expression changed instantly.
“Put the microphone down.”
Sophie ignored him.
“Emma originally asked Uncle Daniel to join this dance halfway through.”
A murmur moved through the room.
Daniel stared at her.
Emma’s face went pale.
Tom spoke quickly.
“She changed her mind.”
Sophie looked directly at him.
“No, she didn’t.”
Silence.
“She canceled it because you told her that if Uncle Daniel danced with her tonight, you wouldn’t come to the wedding.”
Nobody moved.
Not Tom.
Not Daniel.
Not Emma.
Every eye in the ballroom seemed to turn toward my ex-husband.
Sophie continued.
“Uncle Daniel taught me to drive.”
“He helped Emma move into her first apartment.”
“He showed up whenever our family needed him.”
