Olivers parents were scandalised by his choice of partner and, in true melodramatic fashion, gave him the boot. Still, Oliver stood his ground, determined to be with Daisy, whom hed met and promptly fallen for at university. Trouble was, Daisy absolutely didnt fit the mould of the posh, aristocratic crowd that his parents preferredmeaning his family fully expected him to follow the tired old traditions and marry the girl theyd picked out for him, as though this were the 18th century.
When word got out about Daisy and Olivers romance, his parents lost the plot entirely, going so far as to threaten Daisy and, at one point, deploying a truly appalling level of aggression in their attempts to keep the pair apart. Unable to watch Daisy suffer for his parents snobbery, Oliver confided in his mum. The result? A row so thunderous it could probably be heard in Scotland, and, in a bizarre twist, his father ended up being shown the door for refusing to heed his mothers wishes.
With no other choice, Oliver moved in with Daisy at her uni digs, and faster than you could say registry office, the two tied the knot. The newlyweds had their rough patches, but thanks to Daisys ever-supportive family (and her aunts spectacular Sunday roasts), they managed to weather the storm. Together, Oliver and Daisy found work, rented a little flat in Bristol, and before long, set up a thriving business of their own.
Despite their newfound success, Olivers parents kept their distance, refusing even to acknowledge the birth of their grandchildrenclassic stiff-upper-lip stuff. On the other hand, Daisys family became even more of a presence, helping them get a mortgage for their very own terrace house. Gradually, both families began to thaw; the relatives finally started dropping round for tea, rebuilding their ties like nothing had happened. Things hummed along nicelyuntil that notorious episode with Daisys mother-in-law.
One evening, Oliver and Daisy came home from work to find their youngest son crying in the corner, having been scolded a little too vigorously by his grandmother for refusing to eat his shepherds pie. Oliver, ever the peacekeeper, asked his mum to be gentle with the children. She nodded, pretending to agree, but the very next day, she was right back at it, at which point Daisya far cry from the shy girl she once wasstepped in. She coolly told her mother-in-law that, should she ever lay a finger on her or the children again, shed regret it dearly (her actual words mightve involved something about a broken arm).
Later that day, when Oliver and his father came home, his mother went into a full Oscar-worthy performance, complete with a strategic display of a bruise. Just as her story reached fever pitch, their son shuffled forward and let slip the real reason for all the drama. Oliver and his dad quickly put two and two together and, for the first time, directed their anger at the right target. Having been estranged from his son for ages thanks to his wifes antics, Olivers father was adamant they wouldnt repeat history.
In the end, Olivers mother seemed to realise her placeone that didnt involve bullying her daughter-in-law or frightening her grandchildren. Peace (and proper portions of pudding) was restored at last.
