” Dad… Emily asked us not to come to the wedding… Said shed be embarrassed by her country parents. But how can that be… How, Valerie… Ive waited so long for this day, to see my daughter married. And now she doesnt want us there, ashamed of us… Whats come over her?”
“Hello, Mum? Olivers asked me to marry him, can you believe it? Ive dreamed of thisjoining his family!”
Valerie was over the moon for her daughter. Clever, beautiful, their Emily. She and her dad had always supported her. After school, Emily had set her heart on modellingwith her looks and figure, she couldve made it.
But the course cost money. So her father sold the cattle and pigs, and just like that, they scraped together the fees. Emily rarely came back to the village after thatcity life had swept her up like a whirlwind. She started earning her own keep, doing photo shoots and fashion shows. Her parents were chuffed she was doing so well.
Oliver was the only son of some big-shot executive, spoiled rotten. Emily never introduced him to her parents, never invited them to the city. Always claiming they were “too busy,” jetting off abroad with Oliver every other week.
Valerie worked as a school cleaner and often showed off Emilys photos at work.
“Val, why hasnt Emily brought her fiancé to meet you? Ashamed, is she?”
“Dont be daft, Margaret. Emily loves us!”
“When was the last time she visited, though? Can you even remember? Does she call much?”
“She rang last weekshes getting married! Now weve got to figure out how to afford a gift and smarten ourselves up.”
***
“Emily, love, when are you and Oliver coming to visit? Your dads made his famous piereckons your fiancé ought to try it.”
“Mum, pleasehe doesnt eat carbs. Were swamped with wedding prep, no time to pop round.”
“Whens the big day, then? Well need to sort ourselves out, get proper clothes.”
“Mum, listen… Best if you dont come to the wedding. Think about itOlivers familys loaded, all posh guests, and then theres you… Dad always smells of the farm. The contrastd be mortifying. Youd stick out like a sore thumb.”
“Right then, love. Wont see you there.”
Valerie didnt know how to tell her husband. Hed been counting the days, imagining their girl in white, wishing her happiness. The whole house was plastered with Emilys photoshe remembered every shoot date, often gazing at them proudly.
“Dad… Emily doesnt want us at the wedding… Says shes ashamed of her country parents.”
“But how… How, Val… Ive waited so long for this.”
Michael went pale. Valerie handed him water and heart pillshed had trouble before.
“Mike, dont take it to heart. Well manage.”
That night, an ambulance camethe shock had been too much.
“You know what, Val? Were going anyway. Weve every right! She cant stop us!”
Valerie hated the idea, but he was adamant. Finding the wedding venue was easyOliver was minor aristocracy, and the details were all online. Val borrowed a nice dress, bought Michael a new suit, and off they went.
They slipped into the reception mid-celebration. When the MC asked if anyone else wished to toast the couple, Michael boomed, “We do!”
“Oliver and Emily, congratulations! May your children never forget their roots, nor scorn the hands that raised them. Cheers!”
He set down the flowers, took Vals hand, and left.
Oliver gaped at Emily. “Who were those people?”
“Just… some relatives.”
Oliver chased them outside. “Wait! Stay for the reception! Emily said she had no family left!”
“No family? Were alive!”
“Youre her parents? Whyd she lie?”
“Embarrassed by us, Oliver. Were not posh enough.”
“Im so sorry… I had no idea.”
“Youre a good lad. Dont hold it against her.”
“Please, stay!”
“No, we wont ruin her day.”
Three months passed. No call, no visit.
Val was hanging washing when a taxi pulled up. Emily stepped out with a suitcase. Val kept pegging sheets.
“Mum? Hi. Im home. Not pleased to see me?”
“Hello. Whyve you come?”
“What dyou mean, why? Its home.”
“Is it?”
“Is Dad in?”
“Dads at the cemetery.”
“Stop joking.”
“No joke. You buried us early, but he died two months back. Couldnt take your betrayal. And Ill never forgive you. You took my husband and my daughter. Go back. Youve no place here.”
Emily walked inside. Silence. Dads chair was gone. So were her photos. The house felt alien, like shed never lived there 17 years.
“Mum, I couldnt come soonerwe were in the Maldives, terrible signal. Oliver was furious about the lies. And… were divorcing. Turns out were chalk and cheese. Im signing with an agency abroad. Plenty more fish in the sea.”
“Live as you like, Emily. Goodbye.”
The gate clicked shut.
Valerie went inside and wept. What had happened to their sweet little girl? She had no daughter now. Best get used to it. Emily had made her choice. Val cried, staring out the window. Better alone than with a daughter like that.
