Bride Forgot How to Say “Thank You”
“Emma, do you have anything to eat?” asked Lily in a rush. “I’m so hungry, it’s ridiculous. And I’m in such a hurry. I need to get everything done today. It is, after all, March 8. The girls are waiting for me; we’re going clubbing tonight.”
“Yes, a special day, indeed. Our day. This is for you, my dear. Congratulations,” said Emma, handing Lily a lovely little box with a bracelet Lily had wanted for years.
Lily could never quite afford it herself. Her paycheck always seemed to vanish. She had to get the latest cool jacket, get her hair done, or hang out with friends. Why deny herself small pleasures?
Emma knew of Lily’s longing and was eager to bring her joy. After all, she was family. Emma had always dreamed of having a daughter, aside from her grown son. And when John introduced Lily as his girlfriend, it was as if her wish had come true. Emma loved her wholeheartedly and spoiled her…
Emma loved this frail young woman not because Lily was particularly special, kind, or endearing. It was just Emma’s nature. She adored her son. So, she loved everyone and everything connected to him. Lily had been seeing him for three years. Emma, as a good future mother-in-law, tried to welcome her into the family as one of their own.
However, she didn’t account for people being self-serving. And it’s easy to get accustomed to good treatment. When someone does a lot for you often, you start to think it’s the norm. Gratitude withers, and soon, receiving everything on a silver platter seems perfectly ordinary.
This was the case with Lily.
From day one, Emma vowed to make Lily feel welcomed, comfortable, and at ease in their home. Emma and her husband, David, John’s father, had recently moved to a beautiful house in the countryside. One evening, a few weeks after they first met, she invited Lily to stay over…
From that day forward, Lily practically lived in John’s room, not seeking permission from her boyfriend or his family. She acted as if it were only natural.
No one really objected, but there were times when John’s parents desired some time alone or just with their son, their family.
That option was no longer available.
In this house, life was luxurious for Lily, unlike the cramped one-bedroom apartment with her mom and grandmother. The house had exquisite decor, all the comforts one could desire. The fridge was always stocked, meals were delicious and fresh, and there was no need for cleaning—Emma, as a true homemaker, did everything herself with pleasure.
Lily accompanied them everywhere. She was included in visits to friends in neighboring towns.
Emma’s friend, Sarah, always warmly welcomed the family. Delicious dinners, cozy beds, cheerful outings. Naturally, this extended to Lily too. She was family.
Sarah’s family also took a liking to Lily, who enjoyed being with them. She was fed, entertained, and taken on outings. It was like living a fairytale.
Besides, in the three years with John’s family, Lily flew to the seaside twice, entirely at their expense, despite her own decent income. She visited all the resorts without paying a dime or offering to chip in.
She never even bought groceries or a simple cake for tea.
Outsiders might assume Lily found it convenient to be with such a generous and hospitable family.
But neither Emma, her husband, nor John ever thought ill of her. She was always cheerful, spontaneous, and outgoing. Not a single ill thought crossed Emma’s mind until that fateful day. March 8.
On that day, the two best friends decided to celebrate together. Sarah had come to town to see Emma. They booked a swanky hotel room. The stay included pool visits, a spa center, and massages in honor of the occasion. They could invite a few guests for free, but only until eleven at night.
The friends had a great time, sipping champagne, laughing heartily, and chatting about everything under the sun.
Their idyll was interrupted by… Who else? Lily, surprisingly enough.
“Hello, Emma. John mentioned you’re relaxing at the spa today? May I pop by for a bit?”
Emma was initially taken aback. She thought that two adult women, best friends, deserved some time alone. Especially on such a delightful day away from household chores and responsibilities, with their husbands and children left behind (Sarah had three, mind you). Why have anyone else intrude? They were perfectly content. Happy, peaceful, and wonderful.
But it felt wrong, perhaps awkward, to decline Lily’s request.
“Well, okay, come over,” Emma muttered hesitantly.
“Are we expecting someone else?” Sarah asked, surprised.
“Yes. Lily will join us for a while.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I have a gift for her too. I was going to leave it with you, but now I’ll give it to her personally.”
“My gift is with me as well, though I intended to give it at home… but alright.”
Fifteen minutes later, Lily was at the door.
“Oh my, everything here is stunning! How beautiful. Is the spa open? I’ll go; I don’t have much time.”
Lily immediately donned a white robe and went off to enjoy some relaxation.
Sarah and Emma exchanged surprised glances but shrugged and returned to their interrupted conversation. Meanwhile, dinner ordered from the restaurant arrived at the room. It was exquisite. Oysters, mussels, choice fruits, and desserts. Fish, caviar, everything opulent. On a day like this, it was no time for restraint.
As the friends savored the exquisite meal, Lily returned to the room.
“So, what do we have here? Looks delicious, mmm…” she joined them rather intrusively.
Emma and Sarah tensed once more but kept their composure.
To lighten the mood, Emma handed Lily her gift.
“Oh, great. It’s exactly what I wanted!” she mumbled, finishing off another oyster.
Sarah also congratulated Lily, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
In return, silence. She barely said thank you and didn’t offer any congratulations. It seemed like March 8 was only her day.
“Well, gotta go. The girls are waiting for me. I need to swing by home, wash my hair, and change.”
“Really, Lily? Did you know John’s waiting for you at home? Okay, you worked today. You didn’t see each other in the afternoon. But now? Didn’t he tell you?”
“He did. But I told you, the girls are waiting. They’ve booked a table at the club. I want to enjoy tonight with them.”
“But he made dinner for you. And he has a gift you’ll love; you’ll see.”
In fact, Emma and her son had arranged the gift earlier. She bought the bracelet, and John had been saving for earrings to match for months. Lily couldn’t have imagined such a gift. But Emma was saddened by her lackluster reaction to her present. Perhaps Lily was expecting something else, or she simply forgot how to express gratitude.
Most likely, it was the latter. Alexander’s family had spoiled her so much that she took everything for granted.
“Lily. Spare John a little time. He prepared, he waited,” Emma couldn’t help but insist, “He’ll drive you to the club later and pick you up.”
“No worries. I’ll visit him in the morning. Our friends invited us for a quad bike ride. I’ve been wanting to go.”
“And the dinner? The gift?”
“He can eat the dinner, and I’ll pick up the gift tomorrow, no big deal.”
Lily vanished as swiftly as she arrived. She didn’t wish Emma or Sarah a happy celebration, nor did she bring anything. And off she went to continue her fun. Not to where her loved one awaited, but where she fancied enjoying herself tonight. At that moment, many things became clear.
An uneasy silence hung in the room.
“Emma, I don’t mean to say anything, but…”
“Yes. I understand. And I realize that I’m largely to blame in all this. I did too much for that girl. So much that she even forgot how to say ‘Thank You.’ But she sure learned how to use people well.”
They decided not to spoil their evening dwelling on thoughtless Lily.
The next morning, John had a serious conversation awaiting him with his mother…
