There Won’t Be a Wedding “Why are you so quiet today?” Tanya asked. “We agreed to pick out bedroom furniture on Saturday, but you seem down. What’s wrong?” Denis knew: it was now or never. He had to say it now. “Tanya… There’s something I need to tell you. About the wedding.” Tanya had been waiting for this conversation. She and Denis had agreed to keep the celebration modest, but she sensed Denis wanted a proper wedding—lots of guests, a photographer, an event planner… She’d been looking forward to this! “Just get to the point, please—I think I know what you’re about to say,” Tanya smiled. But Denis said, “Let’s postpone… Let’s postpone the wedding.” That was not the conversation she’d prepared for. “Postpone?” she gaped, stunned, “What’s brought this on? Why? We were just talking about invitations… You picked them out yourself! We decided who to invite! Have you changed your mind about marrying me?” Like a scene from a drama, she half expected to hear that his feelings had cooled. But Denis didn’t follow the script. “Money’s tight right now,” he muttered. “My pay’s been delayed. We haven’t managed to save. And… We’ve only been living together for six months. Isn’t it a bit soon?” “Too soon?” Tanya choked. “Denis, we’ve been together three years! Three years in a relationship and six months living together is ‘too soon’ for you?” Denis looked less scared now. “Don’t start, Tanya. I don’t want a fight. This is just… a pause. I haven’t changed my mind about marrying you, but a wedding is expensive.” “Fine… Why don’t we just have a registry office wedding and celebrate with friends after?” “Tanya, that wouldn’t be a real wedding.” “Then who cares about a real wedding!” “But you dreamed about it…” “I’ll survive!” He’s coming up with strange excuses. “Tanya…” “Just be honest. Has something happened? Are you unsure about me? Or… did you meet someone else? Because ‘the wedding is expensive’ doesn’t sound convincing.” Denis shook his head. “No, Tanya, I promise. I just want everything to be perfect, you know? And right now, I can’t give us the perfect wedding. And yes—six months. We’re still getting used to each other. Need to see if we’re really compatible…” His words made sense… He was convincing, but Tanya’s intuition protested. Rarely had Denis worked this hard to persuade her of anything. And he himself had insisted on marrying quickly. But she pretended to believe him. After that talk, Denis transformed—not just a boyfriend, but the perfect boyfriend, paying attention to the little things, as if to make amends for the postponed wedding. Always asked Tanya’s preference in shops, always did the dishes himself… But he was gloomy. Not just pensive, but downright gloomy, sighing at night staring at the ceiling, brushing off Tanya’s questions with, “Just tired, that’s all.” Tanya tried not to push. “Later, later, later,” her inner voice whispered. A couple of weeks later, Denis’s parents invited them over. Tanya hesitated but couldn’t refuse. Denis hadn’t brought up the wedding again, and his parents were bound to ask—awkward. They brought up the wedding, of course. “So, when are you going to make us happy?” his mum asked as dad went to watch telly. “We’ve already found a venue for the reception—table for twenty. What date should we book?” Denis sat there just as glum as Tanya. Book what? There’s nothing to book. “Mum, we’ve… postponed it,” he rasped. “Postponed? Why? No money? Denis, mate, why didn’t you think about that sooner?” After dinner, as the men examined yet another broken speaker, Tanya slipped to the bathroom. Spotless in there, like an operating room—not even any cosmetics except shower gel and shampoo. His mum kept all her toiletries in her room; Tanya always wondered how she bothered carting them back and forth. As she dried her face, Tanya heard… The bathroom walls always carried voices. Denis was back in the kitchen, speaking to his mother. And Tanya overheard… “…Denis, have you decided to break up with Tanya?” Tanya froze, towel to her chin. What? She didn’t kid herself—she’d heard that clearly. She pressed her ear against the cold tile. “Mum, I told you. We’ve only postponed the wedding. We’re not splitting up.” “Postponed is just an excuse!” hissed Galina. “I can see how miserable you are. Why do you need her? She isn’t the right wife for you. A wife should listen to her husband, but she… Why marry if you’ll divorce in a year?” “I love her, Mum,” Denis replied. Tanya even had a pang of tenderness. But his mum’s next words put an end to that. “You say you love her? She’s a crafty one, Denis! I told you! Not even your wife yet, and she’s already turned you against us. You don’t help your sister, you rarely come to the house. She’s changing you, and not for the better.” Tanya stuck to the wall, horrified. Setting him against his family? When?! She’d always done her best to be polite, even when his dad trashed her new haircut. She’d never deliberately turned Denis against them—in fact, she always encouraged him to stay close. Suddenly it hit her: The postponed wedding wasn’t about money. It was his mum, lying to her face, who was against it! Tanya hurried back in. “Oh, Tanya, there you are! We were just saying you shouldn’t put off the official bit for long. I know you’re young, but I do think life without a marriage certificate is wrong.” How sweet of her. “Of course, Mrs. Smith,” Tanya smiled (using a typically English surname). “We won’t delay for long! As soon as we’ve saved, we’ll be at the registry office. Won’t we, Denis?” “Absolutely, Tanya. We’re practically married already,” he agreed. That night, driving home, Denis reached to hug her, but Tanya kept moving away. She didn’t know how to start the conversation. Should she even ask? If Denis hadn’t dumped her for his parents’ sake, that meant he must love her… But the wedding was still off. “You behaved oddly when your mum started talking,” she finally said, watching the river lights fade. “Me? Nah, she’s just rushing us to marry and—” “Don’t lie. She’s not rushing you to marry. She’s against our wedding entirely. She said I’d turned you against her. She told you to break up with me.” Denis jerked the steering wheel. “So you heard that?” he muttered. “Tanya, Mum’s scared her precious boy will marry and forget her—typical, isn’t it? Don’t take it personally. She’ll get over it.” Tanya didn’t take the mum’s words to heart—the woman just couldn’t let her son go. What worried Tanya was Denis himself. He hadn’t defended her, just agreed to keep the peace. The wedding question hung in the air. Denis kept acting like he’d been sucking lemons, and now, when Tanya hinted at future plans, he gave his usual, “Maybe later…” Then Tanya came across Denis’s unlocked phone. “I’m just checking the time,” she told herself. “I won’t read messages. Just… a quick look.” The latest notification was from his sister, Vera. Vera was only two years younger than Tanya but acted like she was twelve—no job, no studies, still lived with mum and dad (and their money). The message was blunt: “So, I won’t see any money then. You’re under her thumb again. Well, go live with her if some girl means more to you than your family.” Tanya read it twice. ‘Under her thumb.’ And then she remembered… Before the wedding was cancelled, when Vera had rung Denis asking for money again, Tanya couldn’t help saying, “Denis, she’s twenty-seven, still living with your parents, and asking you for spending money. Maybe it’s time she supported herself? Our budget isn’t endless.” She usually kept out of it, but her money went into the same pot—and she hadn’t signed up to subsidise his sister. Denis had agreed, reluctantly: “Yeah, you’re right, Tanya. Enough is enough.” No wonder now who was turning everyone against her. She copied Vera’s message, sent it to her own phone for proof, and put Denis’s mobile back exactly where it was. Denis came in, brushing snow off his coat. “Picked up bread and your favourite chocolate—the one with the nuts. I was thinking, Tanya, maybe I should have—” “Denis,” Tanya interjected. “What, Denis? Were you expecting someone else?” he joked. But Tanya didn’t laugh. “What’s Vera messaging you about?” she asked. Denis remembered: best form of defence is attack. “So you’re snooping in my phone while I’m out?” Classic defensive move—redirect the blame. “Doesn’t matter what I did, Denis. Explain this. Now.” Denis hesitated; his face cycled through anger, then panic. “She’s young—she takes everything to heart,” he said at last. “Takes what to heart? That I asked her to grow up?” “She grew up with me always helping. Now she expects it. Habits are hard to break, especially easy money. Don’t worry, it’ll blow over.” “She turned your parents against me, didn’t she?” “Well… yes,” Denis admitted. “I tried explaining our money is ours, Vera should fend for herself… Mum took that personally: ‘Tanya’s running you, you’ve abandoned your family.’ But I don’t think that.” “But you cancelled the wedding… fine. She turned your family against me. I get it. I can’t talk to them anymore. But what do you think? Do you actually want to marry me? Or are you just putting it off because you’re afraid to tell your mum ‘no’?” “Of course I want to marry you! But I just can’t… Maybe later… when things settle…” So there was her answer. “You know, Denis, I’ve made up my mind… I don’t want to marry anyone who isn’t sure of his feelings, or flinches every time his sister says boo. It’s a good thing we called off the wedding.”

No Wedding After All

Why are you so quiet today? I asked Jack, trying to keep things light as we sat in the living room, looking over furniture catalogues. Wed agreed that Saturday would be the day wed go pick out a new bed for our room, but Jack looked distant, his mind somewhere far away. I tried to keep my voice gentle. Is something wrong?

I could sense itJack was working up to something. This was going to be one of those now or never moments.

Anna, he started, a cautious tone in his voice. There’s something I need to say. It’s about the wedding.

My heart started thumpingnot with dread, but with hope. Id been waiting for this conversation. Wed both decided the wedding would be small and simple, but I suspected Jack really wanted to give me a proper celebrationa big white wedding, with all of our friends and family, a photographer, flowers, the works. I braced myself, expecting excitement.

Just spit it out, Jack, I said, giving a small smile. I think I know exactly what youre about to say.

But what he actually said knocked the wind out of me.

Lets postpone it. Lets put the wedding on hold for now.

That wasnt at all what Id expected. I was genuinely shocked.

Postpone? I echoed, not quite believing it. Why? We were just talking about invitationsyou were the one picking out the designs! We even made a list of guests together. Have you changed your mind about marrying me?

Part of me waited, melodrama-style, for him to launch into a confession that hed fallen out of love, or found someone else.

But Jack went off-script.

Its just moneys a bit tight at the moment, he muttered. Theyve been late paying me at work, and were not really able to save. Plus, you know, weve only been living together six months. Isnt it a bit soon?

A bit soon? I practically choked. Jack, weve been together for three years! You think three years of dating and six months living together is too soon?

Jack seemed less nervous now. Firm. Almost resigned.

Anna, dont start. I dont want an argument. I havent changed my mindI still want to marry you, but weddings are expensive.

Fine, I said, fighting off tears. Lets just register quietly, just the two of us, and have a little do at the pub afterwards with our mates.

Anna, then we wouldnt have a real wedding.

Who cares! I blurted out.

But youve always dreamed

Ill survive! I snapped, more upset by his flimsy excuses than anything.

Jack, is this honestly about money? Or is there something else? Are you having doubts? Or, I dont know, is there someone else? Because “weddings are too expensive” just doesnt sound believable.

Jack shook his head quickly.

No, Anna, I swear. I just want everything to be perfect for us. I want to give you the best wedding. And yes, its only been six months. We need more time to settle in together, see if we really fit.

I could see the sense in his words. He was convincing. But somewhere deep down, my instincts screamed at me. Very rarely did Jack try so hard to persuade me of anything. And he was the one whod wanted us to get married quickly in the first place.

I decided to pretend I believed him.

After that, Jack became even more the perfect boyfriend. He fussed over me in little ways, always asking what I wanted at the shops, always doing the washing up without being asked. It was like he was trying to make up for something, but he always seemed distant, lost in thought, staring up at the ceiling at midnight and brushing off my questions with: “Just tired, thats all.”

I tried not to push. “Later, later, later,” I told myself, echoing my internal voice that kept nudging: “Wait and see.”

A couple of weeks later, we were invited round to Jacks parents house. I was reluctantit never felt comfortable there, and Jack still hadnt mentioned the wedding around them, and I knew theyd ask. But we couldnt get out of it.

Inevitably, the wedding topic came up.

So when will you two finally give us something to celebrate? Jacks mum asked, her eyes sparkling as soon as his dad went to watch the football. Weve already had a look at venues! Ive got a table for twenty with your names on it. What date shall I book?

Jack looked as sour as I feltwhat was there to book? There wasnt going to be anything.

Mum, we told you. Were postponing, he mumbled.

Postponing? Whys that? Out of money, are we? Jack, you should have thought about that before, she scolded, disappointment etched all over her face.

Later, after dinner, the men got engrossed in the ancient broken radio Jacks dad insisted on fixing, and I escaped to the spotless bathroom to regroup. It was pristine in there, as if cleaned by professional staff every day, and there was nothing of hers there except shower gel and shampooMrs. Barnes keeps all her cosmetics in her own room, which I always thought was eccentric.

Suddenly, I paused, hearing voices carry from the kitchen. Strange, how sound passes through old walls. Jack was there with his mumand then, clear as day:

Jack, are you thinking about breaking up with Anna?

I froze, my towel halfway to my face. What? I strained to listen, afraid to move.

Mum, were just taking a break about the wedding. I already told you. Not breaking up.

A break, she hissed, as if the words themselves hurt her. Thats just an excuse! I can see how miserable you are. Why are you bothering, Jack? You know shes not right for you. A wife should support her husband, not change him. Whats the point of getting married if youll just split up in a year?

I love her, Mum, he replied quietly.

For a second, I felt a surge of warmth for him.

But then his mothers next words hardened my heart.

You love her, do you? Shes a sly one, Jack, Ive warned you. Shes got you wrapped round her little finger, turning you against us. You stopped helping your sister; you barely come home anymore. Shes changing younot for the better.

I pressed my ear even closer to the cold tile. Me, turning Jack against his family? When had that ever happened? Id always made an effort with his parents, even when his dad was brutally rude about my new haircut. It stung, but Id bitten my tongue. Id never pitted Jack against themif anything, Id encouraged him to visit more, knowing how important his family was to him.

And thats when it struck me: this wasnt about money at all. It was his mumshe was outright against the wedding and lying to my face about wanting us to marry.

I rushed out to join them.

Anna, there you are! We were just saying you mustnt delay it too long. I know youre young, but marriage is important.

How kind, I replied, careful to keep my voice light. Of course, Mrs. Barnes, we wont put it off for too long. Once weve saved up a bit, well be off to the registry office. Isnt that right, Jack?

Yes, Anna, as good as married already, he said, obviously trying to play along.

That night, driving home, Jack reached out to hold my hand but I kept shifting away. I didnt know how to start saying what I needed to say. Was there even any point? If he hadnt left me outright at his mothers request, did that mean he cared? Yet, hed called off the wedding.

You acted a bit strange with your mum, I eventually said, watching the streetlights flicker past the car windows.

Me? No, she was just nagging us about the wedding, thats all

Dont lie, Jack. She isnt pressuring you to marry. Shes outright against it. She told you Im coming between you and your family, and she wants us to split up.

Jack tightened his grip on the wheel, knuckles white.

So you heard all that? Anna, shes just worried her little boys getting married and wont need her anymore. Happens in every family. Dont take it personally. Itll blow over.

I didnt take his mums words to heartwhat got to me was Jack not defending me. He just let her say what she liked and agreed to keep the peace.

The wedding question lingered. Jack still walked around looking like hed bitten a lemon, and whenever I tentatively mentioned the future, hed brush it away with a, “Maybe later”

Then, one evening, I stumbled upon Jacks unlocked phone.

Im just going to check the time, I justified to myself. Im not snooping… Just a peek.

The latest message was from his sister, Lauren. Lauren was two years younger than me, but acted half her agenever worked, never went to uni, still living at home.

Her message was blunt:

So I wont be seeing any money, then? Under the thumb again, I see. Live with her if you think some girls more important than your own family.

I read it a few times. Under the thumb again.

Suddenly, I remembered something from before the wedding got called offLauren had asked Jack for money again, and Id said, just once:

Jack, shes twenty-seven, lives off your parents, and now wants money off us for concerts and takeaways. Maybe she needs to stand on her own feet? Our budget isnt limitless.

Normally, I’d have stayed out, but it was our joint account, and I earned as much as Jack. Id had enough of funding his family. Jack had agreed reluctantly: “Youre right, Anna. Enoughs enough.”

Now it all made sensewho was really stirring up the trouble.

I took Jacks phone, copied Laurens message, and sent it to myself for proof. Then I put the phone back exactly where Id found it.

Jack came in, brushing rain off his coat.

Got you that crusty bread you like, and your favourite chocolate with hazelnuts. I was thinking, Anna, maybe we

Jack, I interrupted.

Oh, having a go at me, are you? Expecting someone else? he joked, but I wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

Whats Lauren texting you about? I asked, staring directly at him.

He bristled. The best defence is a good offence, right?

Youve been looking at my phone while Im out?

Classicmake me the bad guy instead.

Thats not the point, Jack. I want to know. Whats going on? Right here, right now.

Jack hesitated, emotions flicking across his face: anger, then anxiety.

Shes just being childish, he said eventually. Shes always kicking off, throws a fit over everything.

Whats she so upset about? Because I told her to grow up? I pressed.

Shes just used to you always bailing her out, he shrugged. Its hard to give up free money. Shell get over it, dont worry.

Is it Lauren whos turned your parents against me?

Jack hesitated.

Yeah, he admitted. Ive tried explaining its our money, that Lauren should sort herself out. But Mum immediately blames youAnnas wrapped you round her finger, youve abandoned the family for her! she says. But I dont think that.

But you called off the wedding. So shes managed to pit your family against me. Fine, I get it. I cant be around them. But what about you, Jack? Do you want to marry me, or are you just putting it off because youre afraid to stand up to your mum?

Of course, I want to marry you! But I cantNot yet. Maybe later, when things calm down…

There was my answer.

You know, Jack, Ive realised something. I dont want to marry someone whos not sure of me, someone who flinches every time his sister throws a tantrum. Thank goodness we didnt go through with it.