Emily had absolutely no desire to marry. Yet at nineteen, she found herself pregnant by a schoolmate she’d been seeing for three years. Suddenly she was swept up in the tide of obligationshe didnt want her child to grow up fatherless.
Although Oliver was older than Emily, he was childish and always seemed to have clouds for brains. Still, he didnt hide from responsibility; he said hed go through with the wedding and raise their child. Thus, preparations began, as if in a blur.
Emily would have been content with simply signing the papers, but her family insisted on a grand celebration. She couldnt fathom why she should spend extravagant sums of pounds on others when the same money could buy everything the baby might need. But nobody listened. Her future mother-in-law and her own sister picked the restaurant, the wedding dress, and even the guest list for her.
When she was summoned for a dress fitting, Emily resisted. Her mind conjured an outlandish gown brimming with ruffles and gleaming stones. Neither her sister nor Olivers mother was renowned for taste. When her family heard her refusal, they scolded her for ingratitude and burned with indignation. Emily didn’t care; her worries were her own: finishing school, exams, and preparing for her baby’s arrival.
She turned up at the registry office in a simple white dress, one that suited her well and felt comfortable. And thats when the weirdness truly began.
Olivers relatives had no idea Emily wanted to keep her surname. Oliver was fine with it, not even raising an eyebrow. But his mother went red with outrage and hollered at the photographer: “Why on earth wont you take his name? Its tradition!”
Emily just smiled and moved aside. Tomorrow beckoneda wedding feast in Olivers village, with all his extended family. She steeled her nerves for another bout. Their marriage lasted only a handful of years. Oliver was a hopeless husband and a negligent father. Every weekend he vanished into the glow of the computer screen, ignoring everyone. When Emilys patience finally snapped, she packed up her things and departed.
Her mother-in-law was not pleased by how matters unfolded. Emily, however, felt as if shed stepped into sunlighta sudden, surreal freedom and happiness, at last.
