Page 100 of Fathers of the Bride

“Do you want to get back together with him?”

“I’m not sure I should be talking to you about this. I don’t want you to choose sides.”

“That means yes, you do want to get back with Daddy.”

I didn’t correct her.

“Why don’t you just talk to him?”

“I don’t know. Talking doesn’t always work.”

She gave me a stern look and said, “Papa. No grand gestures. Just talk to him.”

Of course, it was already too late. I had a grand gesture in the works. I did not tell her that, however. She’d be unhappy with me and the whole point of spending time together before the wedding was to mend fences.

Approaching Poquito Mas, we were in the far lane, meaning we’d have to cross traffic—a death defying move on Ventura Boulevard. We stopped talking for a moment so I could concentrate. Nearly getting sideswiped by a Hummer, we zipped into the parking lot and went inside to order.

As we waited for our burritos, Kelly said, “Papa, I know that you and Daddy will love me whether you’re together or not. I just want you to know that growing up with the two of you was wonderful. And I hope—no that’s wrong, I’m going to try as hard as I can to have a marriage every bit as good as the one the two of you had.”

“Given the circumstances—”

“Even with your recent problems.”

I had to clear my throat and rub my eyes. “Thank you, sweetheart. You really are a wonderful child.”

We drove up Laurel Canyon to a trailhead and parked to enjoy our lunch. On the way we were mostly silent—partly because I knew I’d have to tell Miles that she was onto us. He’d be disappointed. Once I’d parked and we dove into the to-go bag, I asked, “How are you getting on with Avery’s family?”

I probably should not have waited so long to ask the question. I’d been so distracted by other things that I hadn’t stopped to wonder if things were awful for Kelly with her future mothers-in-law. Luckily, she said, “I think they’re going to be fine. The engagement party was a kind of wake-up call.”

“So, they’re listening to Jeffery?”

“I don’t know that I’d go that far. I mean, they hear some of what he says.”

“And if they don’t listen more?”

“Avery will kick them off the board of directors.”

“Avery? How can he do that?”

She blushed. “He owns more of the bank than his parents. When they were divorcing, rather than fight over the bank stock they put a lot of it into a trust for Avery. He came of age last year.”

“So, he can fire his parents?”

“Basically. He’s got support from a lot of other board members. People are not happy with them.”

“I bet they’re regretting that.”

“They’re taking it surprisingly well.”

We spent a few minutes chewing and looking at the view. I couldn’t help but think that my daughter was basically Cinderella. Well, no, there were no evil stepsisters and we’d always had a cleaning service.

Still, she was marrying the modern-day equivalent of a prince. And that struck me as odd, or at least unexpected. Kelly had never been attracted to princes as a child. Miles and I totally expected her to end up with a frog. And as an adult, she wasn’t the sort of young woman to bother about money. Except, now she wouldn’t have to.

Avery’s position with the bank would probably lead to her having to set aside some of her own goals to support his. At first that seemed terrible, but then I wondered, might she have a greater influence on the world married to Avery than she’d ever have had alone? Or married to a frog?

“What about your book on the women of Malawi?”

“Pudge is trying to set me up with a publisher, but I haven’t written a word. I think I should write it first. Oh my God, this burrito is so good.”