I Couldn’t Attend My Daughter’s Wedding In Paris – The Same Wedding I Helped Pay For. She Told Me By Email: “If You Want To Be A Part Of It, You Can Watch Online.” So I Just Said, “Sure. Enjoy Your Big Day.” The Next Morning, She Kept Calling Me.

The one where I’m good enough to pay for the wedding but not good enough to attend it?”

“She made a mistake,” Sophia insisted. “A big one, I know, but she loves you.”

I handed her a mug. “Does she?

Because from where I’m standing, it looks like she loves what I can do for her. That’s not the same thing.”

Sophia cradled the mug in her hands, looking younger suddenly—more like the girl who used to sleep over in our basement, giggling with Natalie until all hours. “What can I tell her?

Is there anything that would change your mind?”

I considered the question seriously. Was there anything Natalie could say or do that would make me release the funds, that would heal this breach? “No,” I said finally.

“There isn’t.”

Sophia’s face fell. “Not even an apology?”

“Words are easy, Sophia. Especially when there’s money on the line.”

I took a sip of my tea.

“Natalie made her choice. Now she has to live with it—just like I’ve lived with all of mine.”

After Sophia left, I sat in my silent kitchen for a long time, thinking about choices and consequences, about how we teach people how to treat us—one interaction at a time. My phone vibrated with yet another call from Natalie.

This time I answered. “Mom.”

Her voice was raw, desperate. “Finally.

Please, you have to help us. Everything’s falling apart. The venue’s gone, the caterer’s gone, and Marcel’s parents are threatening to pull out completely.”

“Hello, Natalie,” I said calmly.

“Did you hear what I said? We’re losing everything. All because you’re being petty about the live stream thing.”

I let her words hang in the air for a moment.

“I heard you.”

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