Ethan knelt.
Sofia stared at him.
He said, “I know you once walked into a marriage believing love meant surrendering trust.”
Her eyes filled.
“I don’t want anything from you except the chance to build something beside you.”
He held out the ring.
“No property transfers required.”
She laughed through tears.
Then said yes.
The wedding was small.
Thirty people.
A garden.
No hotel.
No legal documents except the marriage license.
Alexander walked Sofia down the aisle.
Halfway there, she stopped.
Everyone wondered what was wrong.
Then she turned toward me.
“Mom.”
I stood.
She reached out her hand.
“You too.”
I walked beside her.
Alexander on one side.
Me on the other.
Daniel sat in the front row crying openly and blaming pollen.
Marcus sat beside him.
When Sofia reached Ethan, Alexander did not say, “Take care of her.”
He said something better.
“Stand beside her.”
Ethan nodded.
