Relief.
“I’m going with Uncle Michael.”
“Grandma stays with you.”
“Okay.”
Daniel stood.
Ava caught his hand.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Don't marry her later.”
The request was quiet.
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“I won’t.”
Ava searched his face.
“Even if she says sorry?”
Daniel sat again.
“You can forgive people without giving them the same place in your life.”
Ava frowned.
“That’s confusing.”
“Yes.”
He smiled sadly.
“Adults make simple things sound complicated when we want two opposite things.”
“What two things?”
“I can care about Lauren.”
“And know she cannot be your stepmother.”
Ava thought.
“So you still love her?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.”
Ava did not become angry.
She looked sad for him.
“I’m sorry.”
He hugged her.
“Me too.”
Lauren was waiting in the living room when Daniel arrived.
Still no wedding dress.
She wore leggings, one of his college sweatshirts, and no makeup.
For a moment Daniel saw the woman he had known.
Sunday morning Lauren.
Coffee in bed.
Hair tied carelessly.
The woman who cried during dog-rescue videos.
The woman who remembered his father’s birthday when Daniel forgot.
Loss hit him so hard he nearly had to stop.
Then he saw three suitcases near the stairs.
Lauren stood.
Michael entered behind Daniel.
Her face hardened.
“You brought him.”
“Yes.”
“This is private.”
“No.”
Michael leaned against the entryway.
“I can go outside if Danny asks.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Stay.”
Lauren laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Daniel remained standing.
Lauren pointed toward the sofa.
“Can we sit?”
“No.”
Her expression broke.
“You won't even sit with me?”
“What happened yesterday?”
“You know.”
“I know what Ava said.”
“I know what I saw.”
“I want to hear you explain why.”
Lauren crossed her arms.
“I already did.”
“No.”
“You gave excuses.”
She looked toward Michael.
Daniel waited.
Finally:
“The photographer said Ava’s hair looked uneven in the trial photos.”
Daniel stared.
“What trial photos?”
“From the rehearsal dinner.”
“Who said something?”
“Lauren.”
She exhaled.
“This is going to sound worse because you have already decided I'm evil.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Answer.”
Lauren rubbed her temples.
“I wanted the wedding pictures to look beautiful.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“They would have.”
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“This wedding was being submitted.”
“For what?”
“A magazine feature.”
Daniel frowned.
“What magazine?”
“New England Bride.”
Daniel stared.
“When did that happen?”
“Two months ago.”
“You never told me.”
“Because I knew you'd make it into some big thing about privacy.”
“Ava would be in those photos.”
“Yes.”
“Which is exactly why you should have told me.”
Lauren shook her head.
“This is what I mean.”
“What?”
“You turn every decision involving her into a legal hearing.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“She is my child.”