A little school. As if my 30-year career was something small, insignificant. But what hurt the most was the first dance. Traditionally, the groom first dances with his mother, but Holly insisted on changing the order. Robert danced with her first, then with Holly’s mother, and finally with me. Two minutes. We danced. Two minutes.
“Mom, you look beautiful,” he said as we spun.
“Thank you, son.”
“Holly wanted everything to be modern, you know, less traditional.”
“It’s fine, son. It’s your day.”
I lied. It wasn’t fine. But a mother learns to smile even when her heart aches.
After the wedding, things changed faster. Robert called me less. When I called him, he was always busy. Holly was always there in the background saying something I couldn’t quite hear. When Ethan was born, I traveled to Miami to meet him. I stayed at their house for only 3 days. Holly made it clear that my help wasn’t needed.
“Elellanena, I have everything under control. Besides, my mom is coming tomorrow.”
Holly’s mom stayed for 3 weeks for Ethan’s first birthday. They had a big party. I brought a gift, a stuffed teddy bear I had hand knitted for months. Holly received it with a cold smile.
“How lovely, Elellanena. We’ll put it away.”
I never saw Ethan with that teddy bear.
Christmas became a negotiation. I invited Robert to spend the holidays in Dallas. He always had an excuse.
“Mom, this year we’re going to the Caribbean with Holly’s family.”
