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.

“What’s going on? Nat says you’re not coming to the wedding now.”

“I wasn’t invited to the wedding,” I corrected him. “There’s a difference.”

“That’s not how she tells it.

She says you’re being difficult about the whole live stream thing.”

I laughed, and it came out harder than I intended. “Right. The live stream thing where I watch my daughter get married through a screen because her future mother-in-law doesn’t want me there.”

Justin shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“It’s complicated, Mom. Marcel’s family is very traditional and they’re paying for most of it.”

I felt my eyebrows shoot up. “Are they?

Because I’ve already put in $30,000 and I was about to wire over $50,000 more when I got the email telling me I’m not welcome.”

That made him pause. “Fifty thousand. Jeez, Mom.

That’s a lot of money.”

“Yes, it is. Money I worked hard for. Money I saved instead of taking vacations or buying a new car or dating after your father left.”

I moved to the bar cart in the corner and poured myself another glass of wine.

I didn’t offer him one. “But don’t worry. I’ve canceled the transfer.”

“You what?” His voice rose.

“Mom, they’re counting on that money. The venue deposit, the catering, the flowers. It’s all booked.”

I took a slow sip of my wine.

“Not my problem anymore.”

“Of course it’s your problem. She’s your daughter.”

He was almost shouting now. “And I’m her mother,” I said quietly.

“But apparently that doesn’t mean I get to attend her wedding.”

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