After Dad Di:ed, My Brother with Down Syndrome Offered to Walk Me Down the Aisle—But My MIL Objected

“If Ethan walks you, his face will be in virtually every important aisle photograph.”

I stared at her.

I kept waiting for another sentence that would somehow make the first one less ugly.

It did not come.

She continued carefully.

“You and Adrian will have these photographs for the rest of your lives.”

“So?”

“So perhaps you should think about what you want displayed.”

My pulse started pounding.

Adrian said:

“Mom, stop.”

Margaret looked irritated.

“I am not saying anything cruel.”

I almost laughed.

“What exactly are you saying?”

She looked at me.

See more on the next page

Advertisement

Then toward Adrian.

Finally:

“I would prefer that the wedding photographs focus on the two of you.”

“They will.”

“You know what I mean.”

“No.”

I leaned forward.

“Say what you mean.”

Margaret looked uncomfortable now.

Good.

“I simply don’t want every image of Claire entering the chapel dominated by Ethan.”

There it was.

My brother’s name.

Finally.

But she was still not finished.

“I’m imagining the large photograph we might hang at home.”

“The family album.”

“Forty years from now.”

I stared at her.

“You don’t want Ethan’s face in them.”

Margaret said nothing.

That silence was an answer.

Six different sentences exploded into my head.

That’s my brother.

My father is dead.

What exactly about Ethan’s face offends your decorating plans?

Do you think Down syndrome ruins photographs?

Why does your hallway get a vote in my wedding?

Would you say this if he were sitting here?

I opened my mouth.

Under the table, Adrian took my hand.

One squeeze.

Then he said:

“We’ll work something out.”

I turned toward him so quickly my chair almost moved.

Margaret relaxed.