He asked his closest friend, Marcus, to make sure anyone who had been drinking used the arranged shuttle.

Then he came over to Grandma, bent down, and kissed the top of her head.

“I’m sorry I didn’t protect you,” he said.

She held his face gently between her palms.

“You were supposed to be happy today.

I am sorry things went this way.”

He shook his head.

“Please stop apologizing for someone else’s choices.”