I told him that the promise to walk me down the aisle had mattered because it was one occasion I thought he would not allow to be rearranged around her life.

Dad listened.

Sometimes he looked defensive; sometimes he asked a question.

Once he started to explain why Vanessa had needed him that particular afternoon, then stopped and said, “I’m doing it again, aren’t I?”

“Yes,” I said.

“But you caught yourself.”

He covered his mouth and breathed out slowly.

“I can’t undo the wedding,” he said.