“Huh. Well, that’s surprising.”
“I’m sure it is to you. By the way, you know how you’re always saying I don’t measure up to Mom?”
“I wouldn’t use those words. I just think that you could try a little harder to—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, fine. I just want you to think about something. Whatever has prevented me from being like Mom comes one hundred percentfrom you. Might want to think about that. Oh, and you aren’t invited to the wedding.”
“Not invited? You can’t do that. I’m your father!”
Does he honestly think I want him to walk me down the aisle and give me away? When I know he doesn’t really wish me the best? Or love me the way a father should love his child?
“No. You were my sperm donor. You’ve never been my father, not the way it truly matters. I know whatfamilyreally means now. Please don’t contact me again.”
“Molly! What’s gotten into you? Do you think you can talk to me like this just because you got yourself a rich boyfriend? Let me tell—”
I hang up and block his number, upset that he can’t respect me and sad that I let him hold so much power over me for so long. Somehow, feeling guilty about Mom’s death twisted into thinking I owed him something.
So many years wasted.
Well, no more. I’m done letting him damage me, especially when it has the potential to hurt others who love me as well. I don’t ever want to put myself or Nicholas through anything like the horrible time apart we had. And when I looked at the comments people left on my Instagram post about what ahappily ever aftermeans, one of the answers really spoke to me.
Happily ever after is believing in your love for each other and working through the problems you’ll face together. This is so you can stay together no matter what because you complete each other.
And that means I need to fully recognize—in fact,embrace—the idea that a life with Nicholas is what I want, and not let somebody like Dad shake that belief.
The door opens, and I turn around. Nicholas walks in with a broad grin. “How was your day?”
“Fabulous!” Then I remember the unpleasant exchange with Dad. Normally, I’d hold back, but I’m not hiding anymore. “Well, except for one thing. Dad called, and I told him he wasn’t invited to our wedding. You don’t mind, do you?”
He pours himself a glass of red. He offers me some, but I shake my head and take a seat next to him at the kitchen counter. “Not even a little. I don’t plan to invite mine, either.”
“How come?” Ted doesn’t seem that terrible.
“Because I want our wedding to be about our future, not his ego.”
I don’t know much about Ted, but if Nicholas feels this way, I trust that he has good reason. “How about your mother?”
“She can come…now that she’s given up on the whole baby thing.”
“She has? Is she going to get a puppy instead?”
“No, but I told herI’dbe getting something if she brought it up again.”
“Like what?”
“A vasectomy.”
I gasp. “Oh my God… Are you going to? For real?”
He laughs. “Of course not. But it should get her to stop asking. My family kind of has a history with vasectomies.”
“It does?” That sounds sort of dire. “Do I even want to know about it?”
“I’ll tell you sometime. But listen, I don’t want you to feel pressured by Mom or anyone else. It’s ridiculous. You have to tell me if she asks.”
“I will. But you know what? It doesn’t matter who gets invited to our wedding or if we get asked about baby plans, so long as we’re happy.” I hug Nicholas, then close my eyes and bury my face in that perfect spot between his shoulder and chest. “How wasyourday?”
“Most excellent. So what are you baking?”
