Her Mother Walked Her Down the Aisle
Her Father Left Her When She was Three Years Old
Katherine was three years old when her father left everyone. He left without warning, without a trace. Katherine’s mother at the time was a stay-at-home mom. Katherine was the youngest of three. She didn’t understand why her father had left. Frankly, no one understood why he left.
Katherine’s mom had an empty refrigerator and three kids, and was behind on their mortgage. The bank account with the tiny little nest egg was gone. Katherine’s mom doesn’t want to think about those days. They caused her great pain and anguish. She had to convince herself that crying never solved anything, and she had to do something fast.
She found a job during the day and a second job in the evening. She had no skills except for a high school diploma. She worked at a dry cleaner during the day and as a cleaning lady at an office building. The pay wasn’t great, but it put food on the table and paid the mortgage.
Luckily Katherine’s older siblings were teenagers and could watch over her after school.
The next time he would hear from her father was a few months before the wedding.
For Katherine, it was surreal. Her father now shows up.
Where was he for the past twenty-one years?
She didn’t want to speak to him.
There was nothing to catch up on.
She hadn’t any questions for him except one, “Why did you leave us?”
He was calling from England. Katherine didn’t care. She wanted no part of him. She didn’t want him at the wedding. But he insisted on talking to her. Katherine relented and picked up the phone, and tried to be polite.
“Congratulations on your engagement. I hear Conrad is a fine young soldier,” he told her over the phone.
“Yeah, we met at the Army base. We met off base at a bar through mutual friends,” she answered.
“That’s great. I heard that you guys are setting a date. Let me know so I can come for the wedding and give you away.”
Katherine started to fume.
“I’m sorry, Dad, but I have that covered,” she lied, but in no way in heaven’s name was her father going to walk her down the aisle. She didn’t want him there anyway.
After a few curt answers to her father’s questions, she politely said goodbye and hung up. She looked at her mother and asked, “ How did he find out about the wedding?”
“ From your brother Kurt. He has kept in touch with him,” her mother responded.
“So, Alice and I are nothing.” She barbed back in anger.
“He is a misogynist, but he is your father nonetheless,” her mother replied as she extended her arms, ready to catch Katherine if she needed a hug. Katherine’s mom was good at hugging her at the right times. Somehow the hugs made everything better in minutes.
“You know, mom, I want you to walk me down the aisle. If anyone has earned it, it’s you.”
Katherine’s mom gave her a bigger hug now and began to cry. “Katherine, you know why I love hugging you? Because you made me happy and thankful for what I have in this world. You are pretty special.”
Katherine and her mom just sat on the couch, hugging each other for a little longer.
The wedding day came for Katherine and Conrad. True to form, Katherine walked down the aisle with her mom; each girl had a spring in each step. Both were smiling, happy and proud. Katherine was happy because she was getting married to the man of her dreams. Katherine’s mom was happy that despite adversity, she could be both mother and father and walk her daughter down the aisle.
