I was buried in spreadsheets, exhausted and sore from hours of work. The office was eerily quiet, the sky outside deep indigo, the fluorescent lights buzzing above.<\/p>\n
Just as I reached for my coat, Michael\u2014my sharply dressed boss\u2014walked in and dropped a thick report on my desk.
\n\u201cI need this by morning,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s almost 8. I\u2019ve been here since before nine.\u201d
\nHe didn\u2019t blink. \u201cIt needs to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he left, he paused like he wanted to say more, then just shook his head.<\/p>\n
Later, in my car, my phone rang.
\n\u201cAlice!\u201d chirped Aunt Jenny. \u201cDon\u2019t forget, you\u2019re taking me to your mother\u2019s wedding!\u201d<\/p>\n
I froze. \u201cShe\u2019s getting married?\u201d<\/p>\n
I drove straight to Mom\u2019s. She opened the door in her old pink slippers, cardigan smelling of lilac and tea.
\n\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t know how,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s easier this way.\u201d
\n\u201cFor whom?\u201d I asked, voice cracking.
\n\u201cYou\u2019ve been under stress. I didn\u2019t want to make it worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m your daughter,\u201d I snapped.
\nHer eyes were full of regret. I walked away, determined to be at that wedding\u2014invited or not.<\/p>\n
A week later, I picked up Aunt Jenny. My stomach churned.<\/p>\n
At the church, I saw my mom in a soft cream dress\u2014radiant. Then I saw the groom.<\/p>\n
Michael.<\/p>\n
I gasped. \u201cYou\u2019re marrying my boss?!\u201d<\/p>\n
Gasps rippled through the church.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t your place,\u201d Mom said quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot my place?\u201d I hissed. \u201cYou knew I hated him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael turned and walked out. I followed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI shouldn\u2019t come between you and your mom,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cI was wrong,\u201d I admitted. \u201cI thought you were targeting me.\u201d
\n\u201cI saw your potential,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I handled it badly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn\u2019t invite me because she thought it would hurt,\u201d I realized.<\/p>\n
We stood silently. Then I said, \u201cShe needs you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded, and we returned together.<\/p>\n
The ceremony started late. I sat beside Aunt Jenny, who squeezed my hand. When Michael walked in, Mom lit up.<\/p>\n
During the vows, Michael looked at me.
\n\u201cTo Alice,\u201d he said, \u201cwho makes me better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later, under lanterns and laughter, Mom hugged me.
\n\u201cYou okay with this?\u201d
\n\u201cYou deserve this,\u201d I said.
\nShe kissed my forehead. \u201cAnd so do you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael laid a hand on my shoulder. I didn\u2019t pull away.<\/p>\n
That night, my mom got married. And I didn\u2019t feel left behind\u2014I felt like I\u2019d found her again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"