Why have you brought your boy to the wedding? We asked for an adultsonly affair!
My nineyearold son, Oliver, is a sunny, quiet lad. A few weeks ago my sister, Poppy, sent out invitations that read adults only. I didnt love the idea, but I had arranged with a friend, Rachel, to mind Oliver while the ceremony went on.
The night before the wedding Rachel called, her voice hiccuping with a cold. She apologized, her words spilling like rain, and I wondered whether it was all her fault. I settled at the kitchen table, the tiles turning into a misty pond, while Oliver slept upstairs and the wedding loomed at dawn. What should I do? In the end I decided to take Oliver with me. Would Poppy throw out her own nephew?
Poppys husband, Thomas, is a wealthy entrepreneur, so the reception was bound to be lavish. Poppy was nervous, so I hadnt warned her that Oliver would be in my arms. When she spotted the child, her face shifted instantly, as if a sudden storm had broken over her. She erupted, her voice cracking the air:
Why have you brought your son to the wedding? We didnt invite children! Youve ruined everything!
Shame flooded me like cold water. Oliver stood bewildered, his small world tilting, and I wondered why Id caused such a fuss. Yet that was only the opening act.
Let him stay. Its your business where you take him, Thomas said, his tone as steady as a lighthouse.
I was taken aback. Poppy wouldnt even listen to my explanation, the words slipping away like smoke. I tried to reason, but it fell on deaf ears.
I grew angry, whisked Oliver away, and drove home. My parents lingered at the wedding, though they seemed reluctant to celebrate, the atmosphere as bleak as a winter garden.
Poppy has taken offense at me and now expects an apology. I dont feel at fault. Her behaviour doesnt paint her in a flattering light, especially now that shes about to become a mother herself. Should I ask her to forgive me? What would you do if you were in my shoes?
