Fast forward to the wedding.

I remember hearing Mike’s voice when I was walking up the church as he said his vows. I strolled in, holding Tommy on my hip, his sticky hands in my hair. The shock on Mike’s face will forever be priceless to me.

“Before you say, ‘I do’ again, Michael St. John, meet your first ‘I did’ and the family you abandoned,” I said.

I addressed his poor fiancée. She was a sweet young girl, and I felt terrible that the distraught look on her face was because of me.

Then, the officiant called for a break, telling the guests to go outside and get a drink before the ceremony resumed. I was okay with that. As much as I wanted to embarrass Mike, I didn’t want to hurt his bride more than necessary. But very few people walked out. Most of Mike’s family was amused by what I said, while his bride’s family could barely contain their shock.

I spilled everything — from how he got married young to having Tommy, cheating on Jane, and finally, divorcing her without any financial help for his son. I warned her about what she was getting into.

“He may be my blood,” I told her, with Mike pacing behind her, “but I didn’t raise him to be like this. Jane is more of a daughter to me now than Mike is a son.”

I held Tommy closer to me, my little grandson who brought so much love into my life, while he sucked his thumb.

“Your son deserves a father who doesn’t walk away from him. You are horrible, Mike. And such a different person from that lovely boy I raised and loved more than anything.”

I walked out, leaving a room full of stunned guests, a son in shock, and his fiancée re-evaluating the man she fell in love with.

The day after, Liam and his mother (my sister) came over for coffee.

Liam said that Mike’s fiancée burst into tears as the church doors closed behind Tommy and me. He said she threw her wedding bouquet at Mike, took off her shoes, and left the ceremony, with her family running after her.

Mike was embarrassed, furious, and bewildered in front of the guests, who were rooted to their seats, probably waiting for Jane to appear.

I know that maybe ruining his wedding seems a little drastic. I’ll admit it. But the point of this entire thing was to teach Mike a valuable lesson.

Things are not over for him — he can still make it right for Tommy. I am open to Mike returning to our family as a son and father. Or, if that is too much for him, I will settle for him taking financial responsibility for Tommy in some way.

But you tell me: Am I right for ruining my son’s wedding? If so, thank you for understanding.

If not, what would you do in my place?