At Sunday dinner, Dad told 23 relatives: “She’s wo…

to.

But they were there in the back row, all of them watching.

After the ceremony, as I stood accepting congratulations and taking photos, my father approached.

“Emily,” he said quietly. “That was a beautiful speech.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m proud of you.”

I looked at him. Really looked at him. He had aged in two years: more gray hair, deeper lines around his continue reading …