She stayed.
“I didn’t think about it like that,” she said.
“I know.”
“I thought having Aunt Diane would represent Mom’s side, and Derek wanted his dad involved.”
“That’s your choice.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it is.
Your wedding is yours.
I don’t want a place in it because I paid.
If you want them to walk you, they should walk you.
But I needed you to understand that I’m allowed to make my own choices too.”
“About the honeymoon.”
“About everything.”
She was silent for a long time.
Then she said something I hadn’t expected.
“I think I’ve been treating your yes like it doesn’t cost you anything.”
I didn’t answer immediately.
“Maybe,” I said.
“And because you never complained, I assumed you were fine.”
“That part is on me.”
It was important to admit that.
I had taught Amanda that I would swallow discomfort rather than risk disappointing her.
She hadn’t invented that pattern alone.
“I should have told you when something hurt,” I said.
“Instead, I kept proving I could handle everything.”
“I’m sorry, Dad.”
There was no justification after it.
No “but.”
Just the apology.
It mattered.
Later that day, she called again and told me she had spoken to Derek.
They were changing their honeymoon plans.
They would take a shorter trip and cover it themselves.
Derek wasn’t happy.
I wasn’t surprised.
“He thinks you’re punishing us,” Amanda said.
“Do you?”
She took a moment before answering.
“Yesterday I did.
Today I don’t.”
That answer meant more to me than the money ever could.
Then she brought up the ceremony.
“I want you to walk me down the aisle.”
I closed my eyes.
For one dangerous second, relief rushed through me so strongly that I nearly accepted without thinking.
But something stopped me.
“Amanda, I need you to be sure.”
“I am.”
“Not because of the honeymoon.”
“It’s not.”
“Not because you feel guilty.”
She sighed.
“I do feel guilty.
But that’s not why.”
“Then why?”
“Because when I imagined doing it without you, after our conversation, it suddenly felt wrong.
