The Proposal and the Plan
Fast-forward to last year. My fiancé, Ethan, dropped to one knee at the lake where we had our first date. I barely let him finish the question before shouting, “Yes!”
From then on, wedding plans consumed my life. Venues, flowers, menus—it was a joyful blur. But one thing was never in question: Dan would walk me down the aisle.
I still remember the night I asked him. We were having dinner—just Mom, Dan, and me. Halfway through the meal, I cleared my throat.
“So… um… I wanted to ask you something,” I said, nervous.
Dan glanced up, fork halfway to his mouth. “What’s up, kiddo?”
I took a breath. “Will you walk me down the aisle?”
The fork clattered onto his plate. His eyes widened, and for a moment he just stared. Then the biggest smile spread across his face.
“Sweetheart,” he said, voice thick with emotion, “that would be the greatest honor of my life.”
I reached for his hand. “There’s no one else I’d want.”
Not once did Rick cross my mind. To me, he wasn’t family—he was a ghost.
