Emily is beaming. She wakes with a blissful smile, feeling Jamess warm breath on the back of her neck, and she smiles again. The money for their honeymoon is already saved. Yesterday she told James about it and spent half an hour listening to his praise, hearing how proud he is of her and how right his choice was.
Just a few weeks ago Emily doubted the decision. James introduced her to his family and she felt uneasy around the strangers. The turning point was that she is a welloff bride, inheriting a modest, old twobedroom flat that her grandmother left her. Thats where they both live.
One bedroom is locked; its Grandmas room. Emily left everything as it was in her grandmothers life the antique chest, the rocking chair, a writing desk and shelves piled with colourful yarn skeins. After the wedding that room will look different, but for now it stays untouched.
In the evenings she sometimes slips in, settles into the rocker, flicks on the old lamp and drifts off in thought. James doesnt like her retreats, calling them whims and melancholy, but he cant stop her. He grumbles that the space is wasted, yet never steps inside.
In Jamess family Emily is the eldest. Her parents quickly realise they can use her as a nanny, and soon all the care of his younger sister and brother falls on Emilys thin shoulders. That brings endless criticism you didnt clean properly, you didnt wash the dishes right, you dressed them wrong Her siblings soon learn that Emily is always to blame and start taking advantage of the situation. So, after finishing school, Emily packs her simple belongings and moves in with her grandmother.
Grandma dotes on Emily, calling her my nightingale, spoiling her with fresh rolls and teaching her to live a godly life. Emily crawls out from under the warm blanket, rushes to the kitchen and starts making cottagecheese pancakes for breakfast. While she yawns and stretches, James shuffles in, plops down at the table, scoops a plate of hot pancakes and drenches them in thick cream.
Listen, love he says after the fifth pancake, Ive been thinking forget the honeymoon! Lets use that money to buy a car. We only need a little extra, we can get a loan theyll give it to you!
Emily watches the creamglazed face of James with surprise, but says nothing as the frontdoor lock clicks. Before she can feel fear, a small crowd bursts into the hallway: Jamess mother, her daughter and an 18yearold grandson, followed by three suitcases and a bag.
Well, hello, bridetobe, come on in! Linda bursts from the doorway. We decided, after talking with James yesterday, to come straight to you. No point dragging things out.
Emily glances again at James, who is already hauling the suitcases from the hall toward the old bedroom.
Emily, open the door, James says. We still need to tidy up. Lets move the rocker onto the balcony, cover it with plastic, nothing will happen to it. The other furniture can stay for now; therell be enough room. And get rid of those old yarn balls, throw them away or whatever.
What do you mean enough room? And why should I throw anything away? And where did Linda get the keys to our flat? Emily whispers, halfhearing the meaning of the early family visit.
Linda chimes in, Youre living well, thank God. The weddings in two weeks. Youll buy the car, James told me yesterday. And theres only one empty room, right? While you have no kids yet, your brother Vicky can stay there its only five minutes from you, whereas the university is far.
James grins, Come on, Emily, cant we let my brother crash here for a while? Its time to ditch that old junk, weve already planned a nursery in that room.
Sarah, Jamess lively sister, pipes up, I know a bloke selling a slick car, youll get a loan, add a bit, and youll be cruising. Dont waste this chance its a bargain!
Alright, Emily, look for the spare keys while I serve the family more pancakes, okay? Our pancakes are fingerlicking good with cream! James says, leaving a pale Emily in the corridor while he and the relatives head to the kitchen.
Emily steps into the room, collapses onto the makeshift couch James shoved together, and ponders. She knows shell go without breakfast. Her soontobe family will sweep the table and fridge clean, leaving her to lug grocery bags again in the evening. Shell have to dip into the wedding stash because James offers no help when he moved in he declared theyd live off Emilys salary while he saved for a bigger house.
Do you really want to spend your whole life in that old council house on the outskirts? James asks businesslike. Emily doesnt argue, especially with the wedding only six months away.
Now new surprises appear. James has already made duplicate keys for the flat. They decide that Vicky will live there. What a shock why must she endure an unknown amount of time under a young mans roof? The final straw is the infamous car.
Emily has dreamed of the sea since childhood. Her parents vacationed at the coast twice when she was little, but she never got to go. She vows her honeymoon will be unforgettable the sea, Greece, a nice hotel, a trip to Sicily, ancient ruins, tangy Greek wine on the terrace, a room with seaview windows.
She starts to sob, a childlike hiccup, and her grandmothers face appears in her mind, sitting in her favourite armchair, kind eyes on the crying granddaughter. Nothing, my nightingale, nothing Remember, marriage isnt a plague. Just dont let it become a disaster. Look for someone who loves you, because love means caring. Seek that care and you wont go wrong.
The decision comes quickly. Voices of her relatives, who never truly were family, and of a man who never became her husband, echo from the kitchen.
First she calls work, asks for two weeks leave early. Then she phones Marjorie, her university friend, explains the situation and asks her to watch the flat while shes away so the relatives dont cause mischief. Marjorie lives two houses down and readily agrees.
Ill sort them out fast! Youll see what theyre up to.
After sorting the flat, Emily finally rings the travel agency where she had been picking a honeymoon tour. They quickly find a hotdeal package. Her suitcase is already packed shes been dreaming of the sea so long she packed everything before the wedding.
Fifteen minutes later she slips out of the flat, quietly locks the door and leaves a note: Wedding cancelled. Give the keys to Marjorie. Buy the car yourself. Not my Emily any more.
Approaching the airport, her phone buzzes nonstop with missed calls and frantic messages: Are you insane? She silences it.
Yes! Ive gone mad! a distant voice from her childhood sings inside her. What a shame!
And somewhere deep in her memory her grandmother smiles with those gentle eyes.
