Chapter 2
I did not open the door right away.
Michael knocked again.
“Ava? Sweetheart?”
Sweetheart.
The word sounded different now.
Cheap.
Rehearsed.
My fingers tightened around the agreement until the paper wrinkled.
Robert stayed near the wall, silent.
He had given me the truth, but he would not rescue me from what I had done with it.
That was Robert.
Even now.
Even hurt.
He let me stand on my own feet.
My mother stood slowly.
“Ava, don’t let him in.”
Her voice sounded afraid.
Not angry.
Afraid.
I looked at her.
“What did you mean when you said he used you once?”
She closed her eyes.
Michael knocked harder.
“People are waiting.”
I turned toward the door.
“So let them wait.”
The hallway went quiet.
Maybe he heard my tone.
Maybe the mask slipped before he could stop it.
“Ava,” he said, lower now. “Open the door.”
Robert moved for the first time.
He took one step closer, not blocking me, just near enough that I knew he would if I asked.
I opened the door.
Michael stood there in a charcoal suit I had paid to rent because he said money was tight.
He smiled first.
Then he saw my face.
Then the paper in my hand.
His smile vanished.
“Where did you get that?”
Not what is that.
Not that isn’t mine.
Where did you get that?
My stomach twisted.
“So it’s real.”
He looked past me at Robert.
His face hardened.
“You did this.”
Robert did not answer.
I stepped into the hallway.
“No. You did.”
Michael’s eyes moved around, checking who could hear.
Classic.
I could see it now.
The charm only worked with witnesses he could control.
“Ava, listen. It’s not what it looks like.”
“You signed an agreement to play father at my wedding for twelve thousand dollars.”
His jaw tightened.
“I lost years with you. I deserved something.”
The sentence hit me harder than the document.
“You deserved payment?”
“I deserved recognition.”
“You left.”
“I was pushed out.”
My mother came to the doorway.
“No, Michael. You walked out.”
He pointed at her.
“She poisoned you against me.”
I laughed, but there was no humor in it.
“I was six. You stopped calling.”
“I was broke.”
“So was Mom.”
“I was ashamed.”
“So you disappeared?”
He stepped closer.
“You don’t understand what it was like.”
“No. I understand exactly what it was like. I was the child waiting at the window.”
For one second, his face softened.
Then his eyes flicked back to the agreement.
“Who sent that?”
That was all he really cared about.
Robert spoke quietly.
“I did not send it. I received it.”
Michael sneered.
“Of course you did. You always wanted to replace me.”
Robert’s face changed.
Not anger.
Exhaustion.
“I never replaced you. I filled the chair you left empty.”
My throat closed.
Michael rolled his eyes.
“Beautiful speech. Did you rehearse that while writing checks?”
I turned sharply.
“Don’t talk to him like that.”
Michael looked at me.
There it was.
Shock.
He was not used to me defending Robert anymore.
Because for two months, I had made myself smaller around Michael’s story.
I had let him call Robert “your mother’s husband.”
I had let him say “real father” until it rewired my mouth.
Michael lifted both hands.
“Fine. You’re upset. I get it. We can talk after the wedding.”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean no?”
“I mean you are not walking me down the aisle.”
The hallway seemed to hold its breath.
Michael stared at me.
Then laughed once.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“Ava, photos start in ten minutes.”
“You won’t be in them.”
His face flushed.
“You promised me.”
“And you sold me.”
“I came back.”
“For money.”
He leaned in.
His voice dropped.
“You humiliate me today, and I promise you’ll regret it.”
Robert moved.
Just one step.
Michael saw.
For the first time, fear crossed his face.
My mother said, “Leave, Michael.”
He looked at her with hatred.
Then at me.
“You’re choosing him?”
I looked at Robert.
The man I had wounded ten minutes earlier.
The man still stood there ready to protect me.
“Yes,” I said.
Michael’s mouth twisted.
“Then you can explain to everyone why your real father walked out.”
I held up the agreement.
“No. I think this explains it.”
His eyes widened.
“You wouldn’t.”
I looked toward the open hallway.
My wedding planner stood frozen at the corner.
Two bridesmaids watched with their hands over their mouths.
Guests were already gathering near the chapel doors.
I lifted my voice.
“Michael Landry was paid to attend my wedding.”
The hallway erupted in whispers.
Michael lunged for the paper.
Robert caught his wrist.
Fast.
Controlled.
Quiet.
“Don’t,” Robert said.
Michael yanked away.
“You think this makes you her father?”
Robert’s voice broke.
“No. Loving her did.”
Michael walked backward, face red, panic replacing pride.
“This family is insane.”
He turned and hurried down the hall.
I watched him go.
My whole body shook.
Then I turned to Robert.
He looked at me carefully.
Not hopeful.
Not yet.
I held out the wrinkled agreement.
“I’m sorry.”
His eyes filled.
“I know.”
“No. You don’t. Not enough.”
The chapel music began.
The wedding planner whispered, “Ava, they’re ready.”
I looked at the aisle doors.
Then at Robert.
“Are you?”
He stared at me.
“What?”
I started crying.
“Are you still willing to walk with me after what I said?”
For three seconds, he did not move.
May you like
Then he offered me his arm.
“I have been ready since you were six.”
