Emily was beaming. She woke up with a blissful grin plastered on her face, feeling James breathing warm air right behind her neck, and she smiled again. Their honeymoon fund was already set aside. Just yesterday she mentioned it to James, and he spent half an hour praising her, saying she was brilliant and that hed definitely made the right choice.
A couple of weeks ago Emily had been doubting her decision. James introduced her to his family, and she instantly felt out of place among those strangers. The turning point, though, was that she was a wealthy bride, bringing along a little old twobedroom cottage that her grandmother had left her. Thats where she and James were living.
One of the rooms was locked Grandmas room. Emily left everything just as it had been in her grannys days: the ancient chest of drawers, the rocking chair, the writing desk, and shelves piled with multicoloured yarn. Of course, after the wedding that room would get a makeover but for now it stayed exactly as it was.
Sometimes, in the evenings, Emily would slip in, plop into the rocking chair, flick on the old floor lamp and drift off in thought. James didnt like her little retreats, calling them capriciousness and melancholy, but he couldnt stop her. Hed grumble that the space was being wasted and never entered the room himself.
In her own family Emily was the eldest. Her parents quickly saw she could be a babysitter, and before long the care of her younger sister and brother fell on Emilys thin shoulders. They never let her forget the endless list of grievances you didnt tidy properly, you didnt wash it right, you didnt dress him correctly Her siblings got used to her being the scapegoat and started to take advantage. So, after finishing school, Emily gathered her modest belongings and moved in with her grandmother.
Grandma adored Emily, calling her my nightingale, spoiling her with homemade scones and teaching her to live the good Christian way. One morning Emily crawled out from under the cosy duvet and bolted to the kitchen to whip up cottage cheese pancakes for breakfast. Soon, yawning and stretching, James shuffled in, sat down, grabbed a plate of steaming pancakes and started dunking them in thick cream.
Listen, love, he said after polishing off his fifth pancake, Ive been thinking forget the honeymoon! Lets spend that money on a car instead. We just need a little extra, we could get a loan theyll sort you out! Emily stared at Jamess creamslicked face, bewildered, just as the frontdoor lock clicked.
Before she could even gasp, a small crowd barreled into the hallway future motherinlaw, her daughter, and her teenage son, all lugging three suitcases and a handbag.
Hello, bridetobe! Come on in, make yourselves at home, announced Linda Brown at the doorway. We decided, after talking to James yesterday, to drop everything right here.
Emily glanced again at James, who was already hauling the suitcases into the hallway and shuffling them toward Grandmas room.
Emily, could you open the door? James called. We still need to tidy up that chairs useless, lets move it to the porch and cover it with clingfilm, nothing will happen to it. The rest of the furniture can stay for now, Victor will manage. Just get rid of those old knitting bundles, toss em out, yeah?
Emily whispered, barely audible, What do you mean Victor will manage? Why am I supposed to throw things away? And how does Linda have a key to this flat? She was beginning to piece together the mornings chaotic family visit.
Linda chimed in, Youre lucky you have a roof over your head, thank heavens. The wedding is in two weeks. Youll buy that car, James told me. And youve only got that one spare room? While you dont have kids yet, Victor can sleep there its only a fiveminute walk for him to get to university, and five minutes for you to the kitchen.
James added with a grin, We cant host my brother here for a while? Its high time we cleared out that old junk, weve been planning a kids room in there anyway. He puffed out his chest, showing off his manly enthusiasm.
Sophie, Jamess lively sister, jumped in, I know a bloke selling a great car, we could get a loan, add it on, ditch the honeymoon, and hit the road. You dont want to miss a deal like that!
James laughed, Alright, love, find the keys to the spare room while I treat the family to more pancakes, okay? Our pancakes are fingerlicking good with that cream! He left a pale Emily standing in the corridor and trotted off with the guests.
Emily slipped into the spare room, plonked herself on the makeshift sofa James had shoved together and stared off into space. Missing out on breakfast was obvious. The looming, greedy family would soon clear out the fridge and pantry, leaving her to haul groceries again in the evening.
Shed have to dip into the wedding stash, because James wasnt offering any help when he moved in, hed declared theyd live on Emilys salary while hed stash his pay for home extensions.
Do you really want to spend the rest of your life in that old terraced house on the outskirts? James had said, all businesslike.
Emily didnt argue the wedding was only six months away. New surprises kept popping up. James had already managed to get a spare key made for his mother. Theyd decided Victor would live there. Why should Emily have to endure an indefinite stay in a house belonging to a stranger?
The final straw was the infamous car. Emily had dreamed of the sea since she was a child. Her parents had taken her to the coast twice when she was little, but never let her stay. She swore her honeymoon would be unforgettable a beach holiday in Greece, a nice hotel, a trip to Sicily, ancient temples, a glass of sharp Greek wine on the terrace, a room with seaview windows.
She burst into tears, quiet sobs like a child. In her mind, Grandma appeared instantly, perched in her favourite armchair, kind eyes on her grieving grandchild. Dont worry, my nightingale, marriage isnt a plague. Just make sure it doesnt become a disaster. Find someone who loves you, because love means caring. Look for that care, and you wont go wrong.
Resolution came fast. The kitchen filled with the cheerful chatter of relatives who werent really relatives, and the man who wasnt really her husband either.
First she called work, asking for two weeks leave a bit early. Then she rang her university mate, Mary, the quiet water, explained the situation and asked her to look after the flat while she was away, so the family wouldnt do anything nasty in their righteous wrath. Mary lived two houses down and readily agreed.
Dont worry, Ill sort them out! Youll see what theyve cooked up! Mary promised.
Sorting the flat, Emily finally phoned the travel agency where shed been picking a honeymoon tour. They quickly found a hot package for her. Her suitcase was already packed shed been daydreaming about the sea for so long shed packed everything in advance, long before the wedding.
Fifteen minutes later she was out the door, quietly closing it behind her and leaving a note: Wedding cancelled. Give the keys to Mary. Buy the car yourself. Not my Emily anymore. As she drove toward the airport, her phone buzzed nonstop with missed calls and frantic texts: Are you mad?! She swiped the screen off.
Right, Ive gone off the rails! a distant voice from her childhood echoed inside her. What a bother! In the depths of her memory Grandmas warm smile shone again.
