My daughter’s wedding invitation arrived addressed only to me

Dear Delyara, My daughter is getting married in October. Today, the invitation arrived. It was addressed to “Mr. Samuel Reed.” Only me. My wife died two years ago, so of course her name should not be on an invitation. I understand stationery. Still, for twenty-eight years, every wedding invitation came to “Sam and Julie.” Every Christmas card. Every school letter once our daughter became old enough for formal things. I stared at the envelope for a long time before opening it. Inside, our daughter had written a note by hand: “Mum’s chair will be there.” That made me cry harder. She has planned an empty chair beside mine with her mother’s photograph and a small piece of Julie’s wedding veil tied around it. I know it will be beautiful. I also know I will spend the whole ceremony aware of an empty chair sitting exactly where my wife should have been complaining about my tie. I phoned my daughter and told her the invitation was lovely. She asked if I was okay with the chair. I said yes. I am. I am not. Grief has made me fluent in answers that are completely true in opposite directions.