Another pause, longer this time. “Mom, about that… Trevor’s family has very specific ideas about these events. His mother is quite traditional. It’s… well, it’s really just for Trevor’s side of the family and a few of our couple friends.”

Trevor thinks… Everything had become about what Trevor thinks. “I see,” I kept my voice carefully neutral. “And what do you think?”

“I think Trevor knows his family better than I do, and I want to start off on the right foot with them. You understand, right?”

That was six months ago. The wedding planning happened around me, not with me. I was becoming a spectator in my own daughter’s life.

The final blow came exactly two weeks ago. Madison called. “Mom, I need to ask you about something, and I need you to be cool about it.”

Nothing good ever followed that phrase.

“Trevor’s been doing some research about healthy boundaries in marriage. He thinks it’s really important that we establish our independence as a couple.”

I felt that familiar chill. “What kind of independence?”