No family members attended my wedding because my sister’s engagement was “more important.” Hours later, her lavish banquet canceled out of loyalty to me. While I was celebrating, my phone exploded with furious voice messages: “Do you have any idea how embarrassed we were?”

“Our child will never feel second best,” I promised.

“Never, we are going to break the cycle,” she replied.

The next day I called my parents, and my father answered.

“Holden, what a surprise,” he said.

“Dad, Catherine is pregnant,” I told him.

There was a long silence, and then I heard a sob of pure joy.

“I am going to be a grandfather,” he said.

“Yes, but the rules remain the same: respect, presence, and actions,” I said.

“I understand, and thank you for including us,” he said.

My mother picked up the phone.

“Forgive me, son, for the wedding and for everything,” she said.

I closed my eyes.

“I don’t need apologies anymore, I need you to act differently,” I said.

“I will do that,” she promised.

“Then let’s start slowly,” I said.

That night, Catherine placed my hand on her belly.