The Wedding That Almost Was

ing, we argued so badly that we

my groom never show

that I add her younger son's name to the title of our ne

ition to get married, I

en together very long-and despite having to deal with an overbearing future mother-in-law-I was still

a.m., my groom

ind would be late on

-a quick reply after I sent him a selfie of

eling that somethi

edictable future mother-

e, I hesitated ab

ts, videographers, and three bridesmaids-I dreade

d and already pressed

on. Don't tell me something happ

Why are you ca

mother-in-law. The moment I heard it, I knew something wa

What happened with Colli

ith you. I was just talking with him,

ccharine tone, I couldn't help

y more delay might ruin the schedule." I tried to keep calm, suggesting.

wouldn't have to deal wi

now, Collin's younger brother Patrick is getting marrie

n

f course, they were still obsess

had been repeatedly cut down by Collin's mom-Stephanie-who not only kept bargaining it d

y planning to pull back the cash to help fund Patrick's weddi

ve as the down payment for our new home, and that

amily should be enough to start with. Just bring back the money from us. I won't use it all fo

o an elder. "Stephanie, hand the phone over to

ion of that money himself, and I'd contributed by purchasing our new h

y first words were, "Just listen

had no choice but to re

mother had alread

ely had savings beyond just the wedding fund. If I took back t

d come get me; all our guests are already

o. My parents were already worried sick. My m

d friends. Forcing a smile, I announced, "Everyone, the groom will be h

d, worry written all over her face. "What's g

re, the mix of hormones from my pregnancy and

nts me to bring back

. "That Stephanie is impossible. Fine, just give the money back. At least we trust Collin.

heir eyes, it was better to avoid extra drama and let th

then, the phone rang a

Patrick, you know, comes from a well-connected fam

Was this her nex

ld lend him money to buy a house? Is thi

you'll need more care. Why don't you move back home so I can take care of you? Let Patrick and his fiancée use the house for now-it's just a temporary arrangement. You'll get it bac

ed like the calculations were becoming more an

ust give away our new home as a wedding gift? And my house ha

een, completely unaware of t

a temporary fix-they wanted m

e suburbs? It's hardly worth anything since it's so remote. Just give that to Patrick. If you agree, I'll te

had clearly calculated that once I was pregnant, I

ption area outside, and I felt as t

of the heavy wedding gown fe

g manipulated by

d, I cracked open a window to let the air in. The rush of cold wind chilled

-of-the-moment decision or a long-planned scheme.

stand -if even Collin was trying to take advantage

ted Collin completely. In our relationship,

my future husband-as long as he treated m

t me marrying into a modest, rural background, but once they saw how humble, courteous

rate every anniversary and holiday, winning back the romantic side of me. I tr

university just a year ago and started a stable

degree, his income was steady enough that I coul

ompromises w

proved to be a constant source of t

he wedding gift money in half, whi

e-wedding contributions from bot

she even insisted that Collin add an

f the reception and dinner, and despite my repeated attempts to negotiate and mediate

r and let my brother have the house. I know this is our home, and it's not just my decision to make, but Mom promised to help with the

decision made after weigh

to building a life together-and even having a child to seal o

feeling beads of

nded, "Our family home? You know that's my premarital asset- my parents boug

ce we're married, we're one family-can't

gnoring the judging eyes of our rela

en't my wedding day, I swear I'd have unl

harity? Are you out of your mind? You're giving a

Patrick. It doesn't hav

e belongs to my parents-it's none of your busines

he safety clip from the back of my wed

wear that dre

o you think you'll marry? Emma Walsh, do you really believe money

etting married. I

ng my phone on the floo

tand by any longer. They saw my makeup smudged by tears and

en completely bullying me. First, they demanded I return the wedd

entire room

and saying, "Alright, my daughter shouldn't have to put u

s flow even faster, an

deographer to cance

said, "Miss Walsh, the fee isn't refundable, and we haven't filmed

ndicating that it

makeup artist to remove

ext time, I'd never hire them. I paid so much

artist out the door, I leaned against the

or the wedding wasted, but I'd also have to cancel the reception, the

in to our guests that the wedding w

, at the very least, I'd seen a real scumb

e hadn't finalized th

his family even before today, believi

as rushing everything-our wedding photos were thrown together, nothing like the

they even cut the w

unger brother's wedding, and they were demandi

they were taking advantage of my situation.

g a wedding would be even more

rly seasoned in handling large-scale events-

ss lectures. We spent nearly the entire day on the phone, and by eight or nine in the evening, after s

paper decorations, and soft fairy lights my parents had carefully put up-somethi

an to flo

id gently, "Sweetheart, why don't you go sleep in our roo

lled me. No one spoke; the silence was heavy with unspoken words. I felt a

? Was I too impulsive? Maybe I should have held on a little longer-perhaps

e. At least before you get married, you now know exactly who you'

what happens. Your dad and I w

d, and I only managed to

aunted by Stephanie's domineering presence, by Collin'

ut Collin and his family when, the next

t to call my parents but, noticing how awkward the

I caught sight of his car parked in the distance, I suggested, "Let's take

en said, "Let's

you. I've already decided-I'm not marrying you. Yesterday, I called and canceled all the reservat

gure suddenly charged from hi

-it was S