At my son’s wedding in Seattle, the bride looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Starting tomorrow, you’re no longer part of this family. I’m the boss now—not you.” I smiled, walked away like it didn’t hurt, and canceled the $80,000 I’d promised for their first home—right there at the reception, while the music was still playing.

It was an order.

I stayed standing.

“I’d rather wait for my son.”

Something shifted in Amanda’s eyes—maybe surprise that I didn’t just do what she said.

Before she could say anything, Daniel came out from the kitchen carrying three glasses of water.

He looked so tired. There were dark circles under his eyes that I hadn’t noticed at the wedding.

When did he start looking so tired?

“Mom,” he said, and hugged me.

But the hug was short and stiff, not like our normal hugs.

We all sat down.

Daniel and Amanda sat together on the couch. I sat across from them in an uncomfortable white chair.

The way we were sitting wasn’t an accident. It was them together against me, alone.

“Mom,” Daniel said, “Amanda told me you canceled the wedding money. Why did you do that?”

His voice sounded confused and hurt.