Emily had always fancied Matthew since our sixth form days. She wasnt bothered that he had a girlfriend at the time, and the moment they broke up, Emily swooped in without hesitation. She clung to him constantly, and sooner or later, he started to notice her.
Matthew would sometimes admit that he wasnt sure if he truly loved herthey just got on well and enjoyed each others company. I advised him to break things off if he didnt feel anything deeper, but he made his own bed. Three months in, he announced to me and our parents over Sunday roast that he was planning to marry Emily. The speed of it all left us wondering if there was something we werent being told.
Shes pregnant, my brother confessed. She begged me to marry her, because she couldnt possibly face her parents otherwise. It must be fate. She says she loves me dearly and wants to raise the baby together.
Such a fortuitous turn for Emily did seem a little suspicious to me, but I kept my opinions to myself, just as I didnt try to sway my brother from his choices. Hes a grown man and has every right to live his life as he chooses.
Mum and I talked about how quickly everything had happened, and that already there was a child on the way, but she seemed genuinely happy at the idea of a new family member and a daughter-in-law. She joked that since shed already got one son, now it was my turn to get married and give her another. We were having a cup of tea together when Matthew rang. He sounded furious.
She went out to celebrate with her mates, telling them all about the engagement, handing out wedding invites, and drank so much her friend had to call me to take her home.
What do you mean, drank? Mum was startled. Shes not supposed to, surely!
Thats what I thought, Matthew replied heavily. I asked her friend why they let her drink when she could be risking the baby. They all burst out laughing and started mocking me. Turns out, Emily isnt pregnant at all. She lied, just so Id propose quicker.
I barely managed not to say Id suspected all along that something was off. Mum was really upset.
What did she think would happen next? she asked, equally annoyed.
After the wedding shed probably have claimed shed lost the baby, or perhaps even tried to get pregnant for realI dont know, Matthew admitted, his agitation clear in his voice. I dont actually have to marry her now, do I?
He called because he needed reassurance that we understood. He never loved Emily enough to marry her. He wasnt ready for fatherhood, either. The only reason hed been prepared to go through with it all was to do the right thing by both our family and hers.
Yes, call the wedding off, I told him firmly. Make sure Emily knows youre aware of everything.
Exactly. If she lied about this, what else would she lie about? Mum added. She seemed such a nice girl, too…
Looking back at all of this, I realise one key lessonnever let anyone rush you into big decisions with half-truths. Trust your instincts and, above all, be honest with yourself before you try to do right by everyone else.
