CHAPTER 3 — THE TRUTH COMES OUT
Rachel rushed toward me.
"You're humiliating me!"
I remained calm.
"No."
"You humiliated yourself."
She grabbed my arm.
"Tell them this is temporary."
"It isn't."
"You can't throw away everything because of one mistake."
I slowly removed her hand.
"This wasn't one mistake."
"It was a choice."
I turned toward the guests.
"Three months ago Chloe told me Rachel didn't like when she called me 'Daddy' in front of her friends."
Rachel lowered her eyes.
"Last month Rachel canceled our family movie night because she wanted 'adult time.'"
Silence.
"Last week Chloe asked whether I would still love her after the wedding."
Several guests exchanged uncomfortable glances.
"I asked why she would think that."
I looked at Rachel.
"She said someone told her families change after marriage."
Chloe whispered beside me.
"It was Rachel."
Rachel covered her face.
"I never meant it like that."
"But you said it."
Sometimes intentions matter.
May you like
But words matter too.
Especially to children.
