“Mom, you don’t have to.”
“I know.”
Twenty minutes later, she arrived with bagels, orange juice, and a folder of wedding receipts.
We spent an hour examining the expenses.
Some vendors had been paid completely, while others offered partial refunds.
The reception coordinator had arranged for most of the prepared food to be distributed instead of discarded.
There were cancellation penalties, lost deposits, and difficult discussions ahead about splitting the remaining costs with Seth.
Mom didn’t pretend money was irrelevant.
She knew I couldn’t afford to dismiss those losses.
But she never suggested that the financial consequences justified proceeding with the marriage.
Eventually, she asked what had happened.
I explained everything.
The childcare arrangement.
My career.
Seth’s loan.
His dishonesty.
She listened without interrupting.
Afterward, she remained silent for a while.
Then she said, “I wish he’d been the man you thought he was.”
I nearly cried again.
