But I did not let her see that, because it was not her burden to manage my pain, and because I had meant what I decided about not making my children choose.

Luca had betrayed me.

He had not betrayed Kelly’s right to love her father, or to be present at a significant moment in his life, or to make her own choices about her own relationships.

So I told her she could go.

I did not know — I want to be honest that I had no idea — what was behind her wish to attend.

I assumed it was what it appeared to be: a little girl who loved her dad and wanted to be at his wedding, the way children do, uncomplicatedly.