Ma sœur s’est moquée de moi en tant que mère célibataire à son mariage — le marié a renversé la situation…

Go ahead, I said, wrapping my hands around the mug. I want you to be my maid of honor. I blinked. That’s not how it works. Serena didn’t even ask me to be a bridesmaid. I know, he said quickly. She wouldn’t, but I told her I want this. You’ve done everything already, and this it feels right. I stared at him.

Julian, you’re marrying my sister. He leaned in. I thought I knew her. I thought I knew what I needed. Someone polished. Someone loud enough to drown out the grief. But then I saw you again. And it reminded me of what mattered. I shook my head, heart racing. This isn’t about me. Yes, it is, he said softly.

Lauren loved you, and I see why. I didn’t say yes. I couldn’t, but I didn’t say no either. That night, my phone rang. My mother’s name flashed on screen. What were you thinking? She hissed before I could even speak. Serena is distraught. You had to make this about you, didn’t you? I didn’t ask for anything, I replied. Voice even.

Julian did. You always play the victim. Just don’t ruin her day. I won’t. But if she doesn’t want me there, she can say so. There was a long pause. You can’t back out now. Julian’s told everyone, “Don’t make a scene.” I hung up without another word. Eli was on the couch building a Lego space station.

“Was that grandma?” he asked without looking up. “Yeah.” “She mean again?” I hesitated. “Let’s just say not very nice.” He nodded. “Then don’t listen. You always tell me to ignore people who are wrong.” I chuckled despite myself. Guess I better start taking my own advice. In the days leading up to the wedding, Serena avoided me completely.

No texts, no calls. No passive aggressive emails, which was almost eerie. I thought about pulling out a dozen times, but then I’d remember the look on Julian’s face, or the way Lauren used to smile when Eli handed her a drawing. There were moments when I caught Julian watching me like he was trying to solve a puzzle he already knew the answer to.

There was no flirting, no touching, no inappropriate glances, just awareness, like we were both waiting for something neither of us had the nerve to name. And beneath all of it, there was Eli. At his next soccer game, Julian showed up unexpectedly, standing on the sidelines next to me. “Didn’t know you were into youth sports,” I said.

“I’m into seeing kids who matter being supported,” he said simply. Eli scored a goal that day. He ran straight to us, beaming, and Julian knelt to give him a high five like it was the most natural thing in the world. That night, as I tucked Eli into bed, he whispered. Is Julian going to be around more? Maybe, I said. Why? I like him, he murmured.

He doesn’t talk to me like I’m invisible. I kissed his forehead. Me too, buddy. And just like that, something started to shift. Not just in Julian or in me, but in the world around us. The day of the wedding was clear and warm, the kind of spring day Charleston was famous for. Soft breeze, golden light, and the scent of jasmine in the air.

Eli and I arrived early. He wore a navy suit and held my hand tightly, eyes wide with both excitement and unease. I wore a soft sky blue dress, simple, elegant, unassuming. I wasn’t there to shine. I just wanted to survive. “You look awesome, Mom,” Eli whispered. His words meant more than any compliment I could ever get from my family.

Inside St. Andrew’s Church, everything looked perfect. White roses, crystal chandeliers, every detail manicured to Serena’s vision. Bridesmaids flitted around the dressing room, adjusting straps, and sipping champagne. Serena stood at the center of it all in her custom gown, sparkling from head to toe, her expression sharp and unreadable.

She barely looked at me. “Try not to trip when we walked down the aisle.” “Good to see you, too,” I said, keeping my tone even. Darlene sat in the corner, already critiquing the photographers’s angles. “When she caught sight of me,” she murmured, “that dress, very you.” I didn’t flinch.

I’d been called plain my entire life. It didn’t sting anymore. The ceremony passed in a blur. I walked behind Serena, held her bouquet, adjusted her veil. I performed every duty with quiet grace. Not for her, but for myself. For Eli, who sat in the front pew beside Julian’s father, legs swinging nervously, face shining with pride every time our eyes met.