Prologue—Erika
Six months ago...
“Mom! I’m getting married!”
My daughter’s exuberant voice popped across the line the minute I picked up the call. I smiled, thinking that her happiness was contagious.
“Jonathon proposed? That’s great honey! I’m so happy for you.”
“We’re having the wedding at the Mountain Ridge Resort in Virginia,” April continued. “We were there for a wedding last summer and we both loved it. And best of all, they had a cancelation, so they were able to fit us in over Labor Day weekend.”
“Wow, that’s so soon.”
“Jonathon’s Uncle Reed is paying for a wedding planner as our gift. Apparently she’s really good and she’s worked on several weddings with the Mountain Ridge events planner so that will make everything a lot easier.”
“That’s very kind of him.”
“Well, I was going to refuse, but he’s rich—not that you would know that when you meet him because he seems way laid back and normal – and Jonathon’s mom said we should let him help us. Anyway, we’ll do the rehearsal Saturday and the wedding Sunday night. That way people can go home on Labor Day and not have to take another vacation day, unless they want to, of course.”
“That’s a great idea.”
My daughter was always very thoughtful, something she got from her father.
“Does that weekend work okay for you Mom? It’s about an eight hour drive from Manhattan. Will you have any problem getting there?”
My heart thudded in my chest.
“I’m invited?”
“Of course you are, Mom. Why wouldn’t I want you to be there for my big day? You’re the mother of the bride.”
Tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t believe my daughter had invited me to her wedding. We’d just started talking again about two and a half years ago after a lengthy estrangement, and things were sometimes a bit tentative with us. We were more like strangers than mother and daughter, especially when we’d first started talking again. Gradually we’d gotten to know each other again, and I think we’d both felt more comfortable around each other the last year.
I’d been working hard to show her that I wasn’t the same selfish person I had been when she was younger, back when I had been deep in my addiction. I’d made it a personal mission to earn back her trust. April inviting me to the wedding was a dream come true. It signified that I’d earned her forgiveness and was important in her life again. I didn’t deserve it, but I was immensely grateful for our new relationship.
“I will absolutely be there. I wouldn’t miss your wedding for anything in the world.”
Reed
“Uncle Reed, when willyou get here?”
I smiled at Jonathon’s eager tone, even though he couldn’t exactly see me through the car dashboard.
“I’m pulling into the parking lot now,” I told him as I swung into an open parking spot that came up unexpectedly. “I’ll...oh shit!”