“Dad, meet hershes going to be my wife, your daughter-in-law.”
“Dad, meet my future wife, your daughter-in-law, Emily!” beamed Oliver, his face glowing with happiness.
“What?!” Professor Robert Hartley, PhD, blinked in shock. “If this is a joke, its not the least bit funny.”
He eyed the rough hands of the so-called “daughter-in-law,” dirt caked under her nails, and suppressed a shudder. To him, it seemed as if this girl had never heard of soap and water.
*Good Lord, how fortunate my dear Margaret never lived to see such disgrace! We raised this boy with the finest manners,* he thought bitterly.
“This isnt a joke!” Oliver shot back defiantly. “Emilys staying with us, and well be married in three months. If you dont want to attend the wedding, Ill manage without you!”
“Hello!” Emily smiled brightly and bustled toward the kitchen. “I brought pasties, blackberry jam, dried mushrooms” She listed off the contents of her worn-out bag as she unpacked them.
Robert clutched his chest in horror as a glob of jam smeared across his pristine white tablecloth.
“Oliver! Snap out of it! If this is revenge, its beyond cruel Where on earth did you find this ignorant girl? I wont have her in my house!” the professor shouted.
“I love Emily. And my wife has every right to live here!” Oliver smirked, goading him.
Robert realized his son was mocking him. Without another word, he turned and stalked off to his room.
Lately, their relationship had changed drastically. After his mothers death, Oliver became uncontrollabledropping out of university, speaking harshly to his father, living recklessly.
Robert had hoped his son would change, that hed return to the bright, kind young man he once was. But with each passing day, Oliver slipped further away. And now, today, hed brought this country girl into their home. Robert saw it plainly: his son had invited the one thing he despised most, just to spite him.
Soon after, Oliver and Emily married. Robert refused to attend the wedding, unwilling to accept this unwanted daughter-in-law. He seethed, furious that Margarets legacyher elegance, her gracewas being trampled by this unrefined girl who could barely string two words together.
Emily, obliviousor indifferentto her father-in-laws contempt, tried to win him over. But the harder she tried, the worse it got. Robert saw nothing good in her, dismissing her as simple-minded and ill-mannered.
Oliver, playing at being a respectable husband, soon slipped back into drinking and carousing. Robert overheard their frequent arguments, secretly hoping Emily would finally leave.
“Robert, your son wants a divorcehes throwing me out, and Im expecting a child!” Emily burst in one day, tears in her eyes.
“First of all, why the street? Surely you have somewhere to go And being pregnant doesnt grant you a right to stay here after a separation. I wont interfereforgive me,” he said coldly, privately relieved to be rid of her.
Emily, crushed and still unsure why her father-in-law had despised her from the start, packed her things in silence. She couldnt fathom why Oliver had treated her so cruelly, tossing her aside like a stray dog. Just because she was from the countryside didnt mean she lacked feelings
***
Eight years passed. Robert now lived in a care home, frail and forgotten. Oliver had wasted no time institutionalizing him, unwilling to shoulder the burden.
Resigned to his fate, Robert accepted there was no turning back. Hed spent his life teaching thousands about love and respect, still receiving letters of gratitude from former students. But his own son? Hed failed him completely.
“Robert, youve got visitors again,” his roommate announced after a stroll outside.
“Who? Oliver?” Robert called out, though he knew it was impossible. His son despised him too much to visit.
“Dunno. Just said to tell you. Well? Go see!”
Robert grabbed his cane and shuffled toward the hall. Halfway down the stairs, he recognized her.
“Hello, Emily,” he murmured softly, bowing his head, guilt weighing on him.
“Robert!” The elegant woman gasped. “Youve changed so much Are you ill?”
“A little,” he admitted with a sad smile. “How did you find me?”
“Oliver told me. You know he still refuses to speak to his own son. But the boy keeps askingabout his father, about you James isnt to blame for your rejection. He needs family,” she said, voice trembling. “Forgive meI shouldnt have come.”
“Wait!” Robert pleaded. “How is heJames? The last photo you sent, he was only three.”
“Hes here, by the entrance. Should I call him?”
“Please.”
A young boy with Olivers russet hair stepped in, a perfect miniature of his father. Nervously, James approached the grandfather hed never met.
“Hello, lad Look how big youve grown,” Robert whispered, pulling him into a tearful embrace.
They talked for hours, strolling through the autumnal gardens outside the home. Emily spoke of her strugglesher mothers early death, raising James alone, managing the farm.
“Im sorry, Emily,” Robert said finally. “I was wrong. All my life, I prided myself on being educated, refined But only now do I seewhat truly matters is kindness. And you had it all along.”
“Robert, weve a proposal,” Emily said hesitantly. “Come live with us. Youre alone, and so are we Wed love to have family close.”
“Grandad, come! Well go fishing, mushroom picking The countrysides lovely, and theres plenty of space!” James tugged his hand eagerly.
“Lets go,” Robert smiled. “I failed Oliver. But perhaps I can do right by you.”
“Youll love it!” James laughed.
