There were cancellation penalties, lost deposits, and difficult discussions ahead about splitting the remaining costs with Seth.
Mom didn’t pretend money was irrelevant.
She knew I couldn’t afford to dismiss those losses.
But she never suggested that the financial consequences justified proceeding with the marriage.
Eventually, she asked what had happened.
I explained everything.
The childcare arrangement.
My career.
Seth’s loan.
His dishonesty.
She listened without interrupting.
Afterward, she remained silent for a while.
Then she said, “I wish he’d been the man you thought he was.”
I nearly cried again.
I wished that too.
After Mom left, I checked my phone.
Seth had sent six messages.
The first two contained apologies.
The third explained his financial pressure. The fourth complained that Heather had requested repayment for months.
The fifth proposed meeting Reverend Thomas to reconcile.
The sixth, received at 10:43 a.m., read:
If you could just help Heather for a week or two, I think everyone would calm down. We can deal with us after that.
