‘Make amends’ for canceled wedding

DearAmy: I have recently divorced from my husband of 20 years. When we got married, I was truly blessed with a wonderful stepson and stepdaughter.

Their father — my husband — was an addict and in recovery for many years (so he says).

Our marriage ended because of his dishonesty about drug usage, eventually leading to a DWI when he ran someone off the road and rear-ended another vehicle.

This was all after countless lost nights of sleep; harm to our home; emotional, verbal and physical abuse — which he never owned up to (or should I say, remembered).

Needless to say, that accidentwas the end of our marriage.

I still have an unresolved issue with my stepdaughter. I gave her $10,000 ofmy own personalmoneyfor herwedding.

The wedding was canceled the day before it was duetotake place because she and her fiance are addicts, and when the money was gone, he left.

She is well-supported and can return the money and other gifts (which she has not done).

Any advice for me? Strapped Stepmother

Dear Strapped: Your stepdaughter should reimburse you for the money you gave to her to fund her wedding, and she should return anywedding gifts she received.

However, I think it’s pretty obvious that she will not follow through. She’s an addict. She is the daughter of an addict. I’m afraid you know all too well how unreliable people in the throes of addiction are.

If she has access to funds to repay you, you might consider taking her to court to try to recover at least some of this money.

I hope you can move on and find peace.

Write toAskAmy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435N. MichiganAve., Chicago, IL 60611.