My Daughter Told Me Not to Attend Her Wedding Because I Would Embarrass Her—But When the Groom Saw Me Holding a Pearl Locket, He Walked Away From the Altar

She looked at the church doors.

“I thought if I could look like Ethan’s family, I’d finally feel secure.”

“And did you?”

“No.”

The answer came immediately.

She laughed through tears.

“I felt terrified all the time.

Every dinner, I worried I’d say the wrong thing.

Every time Margaret mentioned another family, I compared myself.”

I watched her.

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It was.”

“Lauren, I don’t dislike Margaret because she’s wealthy.”

“I know.”