Go to your mother, said her father-in-law.
So you two know each other? asked Amanda.
No, well yes, I mean, sort of, her fiancé replied after a brief pause. A little
But Amanda already knew the truth: this was the great romance her Nicholas always avoided talking about.
Amanda, love, I think Im getting married! her dads voice boomed happily through the phone. Well, why not? Youre grown up, youre settled youve got a wonderful and very reliable chap for a fiancé. My future son-in-law!
Mums been gone a decade now. Why should I rattle around alone? Lifes much easier with a woman in the house!
And Julias fantastic youll love her! I reckon you two will even be friends!
After hesitating a moment, her father added, Shes almost your age!
Almost? So how many years younger is she? Amanda grinned. Her dad had always been popular with the fairer sex.
Rather like our own Charles I was in his day. He had that same mesmerizing tone to his voice.
Women of any age were drawn to him.
Stooped old ladies would straighten their backs and toss their walking sticks aside.
Ladies in their prime would preen and suck in their tummies.
Young women would laugh extra loud, tossing glances at the gallant ex-soldier.
Even little girls would stop fussing and let the charming uncle soothe them.
Which is why Amanda wasnt all that surprised her father was remarrying hed been on his own for far too long already.
And Julia was a familiar name: it belonged to her fiancés mysterious ex, the one Nicholas never liked to discuss.
Amanda might never have known about her if not for a slip from Nicholas mother when they first met: So, have you made up your mind to marry my son or will you do a runner like Julia did?
They had a fairy-tale love, apparently. The sort you only dream of!
As it turned out, Nicholas had been left by his Julia! Yes, left by Nicholas
But why? Charming, clever, successful He had it all.
And yet, she bailed!
Nicholas claimed it was a mutual decision different personalities, different worldviews, as he put it.
If not for his mothers careless (or not-so-careless) comment
His mother seemed to approve of Amanda as a daughter-in-law.
Technically, Amanda ought to have been the first: Nicholas hadnt married Julia, though theyd lived together as he now did with Amanda for three years!
And then, just like that puff! She was gone! Because their personalities clashed, so he said.
Took you three years to figure that out, did it? Amanda later pressed him.
Sometimes it takes a lifetime, darling, Nicholas said, philosophical.
So, did she cheat? Did she want the impossible? Was she demanding? Did she moan about your salary or never lift a finger at home?
No, nothing like that, Nicholas replied.
Then what? Did your mum not like her?
Ive told you it was just a case of differing personalities!
How, exactly? Amanda wouldnt let up; after all, she had to find out if the same thing might happen to her.
Did you want different holidays? Were your hobbies incompatible? she tried again.
No, nothing like that!
So why did she leave?
Who knows! Nicholas snapped with rare frustration. Why are you so obsessed with this? Were happy! Why dredge up the past?
So Amanda stopped asking. Besides, everything really was fine: the wedding was in a month, theyd handed in their notice at the registry office, and even his mum seemed to approve at long last.
Soon after, Amandas dad invited them over to meet his new flame: they too had decided to marry.
A pretty young woman opened the door; at a glance, she was near Amandas age the age gap with Amandas dad was nearly twenty years.
Amanda had only just turned thirty; Nicholas was a shade over forty. Both couples were just fine, really.
You? Nicholas said in shock, staring at his future mother-in-law. She was younger than he was
So you two know each other? Amanda asked again.
No, well yes, sort of, Nicholas replied awkwardly.
But Amanda had already pieced it together: this was The Julia. The great love Nicholas always dodged talking about.
Did you set all this up on purpose? Nicholas blurted out after a pause.
Set what up? Julia replied mildly.
This whole wedding charade! Nicholas clarified.
What do you mean, charade? Mind your words, Julia drawled. And why would I?
Well, revenge! On me and Mum. You hunted out Amandas dad and hooked up with him!
And getting a lonely bloke to fall for you? Easy for a woman like you. Youre clever, arent you?
Listen to yourself! Julia said, cool as you like. I didnt give you and your mother a second thought I forgot about you the next morning. Why on earth would I want revenge?
Oh, dont lie to me! Nicholas squeaked.
Amanda stared at her fiancé in astonishment: gone was the smart, gentle, decent man in his place stood a stranger, his face blotched red, mouth spitting angry words
He even looked shorter somehow, diminished. Amanda marveled at this transformation. Was this real?
Apparently, yes.
You sleep, but you dont dream, Grandpa used to say in moments like these. Amanda had never really understood him before, but now
Her dad came out into the hall.
So, youve arrived at last? Good! Lets sit the foods getting cold!
Im not staying! Nicholas cried, high-pitched. And Im certainly not eating at that table!
It sounded rather rude everyone glanced awkwardly at each other, feeling embarrassed on his behalf. All except Nicholas.
Just look at her! Nicholas ranted, pointing at Julia. Scheming like that! How low!
Thats beyond the pale, Julia! What will Mum say? You need to know how to end relationships with dignity!
Aha! Amandas father, Charles, finally caught on. So youre the mummys boy, then? Clinging on to your mothers apron strings well into your forties?
Keep out of it if you dont know the facts! Nicholas retorted, flustered.
Oh, but I do Julias told me everything! Charles came back, unfazed.
Thats her version! Theres mine and Mums too! Nicholas raised his voice.
Again, everyone exchanged glances. Of course there was a Mums version!
All right! Charles said brightly. Tell us then!
Tell you what? Nicholas balked, off guard now that he hadnt been shut down hed expected to have to argue, not explain
Dad, perhaps we shouldnt Amanda tried, realizing nothing good could come of this.
Why not? her father grinned. Lets hear him out. The other side deserves a hearing! Things might even turn out that your marriage doesnt happen either. You can see how its going!
Come on then, son. Whats this evil Julia done now?
She did everything just to wind up Mum! Nicholas mumbled.
Such as?
She cooked unhealthy food! Mum always made sure I had something nutritious!
Were you living with your mum? How would she know what Julia was cooking?
I told her! We talked every day, I told her everything
Why didnt I guess? Charles said, smirking. Anything else apart from the cooking?
She hated it when I visited Mum at weekends!
And she was supposed to be pleased, is that it?
Yes, of course! Nicholas snapped. Shes my mother! If you love me, you should love her too!
And Julia never took her advice! Mums lived a life and just wanted the best!
Nicholas kept going, pouring out every little detail.
Julia never interrupted or defended herself she just stood there, letting it wash over her.
Amanda felt like she was dreaming everything was suddenly, horribly clear. Her beloveds true nature out in the open.
How had she not seen it before?
Maybe Nicholas and his mother had decided to play nice until the wedding so Amanda wouldnt run off early like Julia had.
At forty, it was about time to settle down and have a family. But now she understood why Nicholas was still alone.
The whole dramatic confrontation took place in the hallway the table, set for a celebratory meal, stayed untouched.
If only Nicholas had kept himself together, perhaps things would have worked out. Amanda might even have married him
But he couldnt! For better or for worse? God intervened as Grandpa used to say.
After a long pause, Charles broke the silence.
I see whats going on. But what now? Yes, Julia didnt get on with your mum at the time, but its all history shes not in your lives anymore! Why pick a fight in the middle of nowhere?
Let go of the past. Julia hasnt been part of your life for years. Youve got your own wedding to plan maybe redirect a bit of that energy! Why fixate on her, eh, son-in-law?
Lets behave like civilised people: can we not find better things to talk about than constantly rehashing the murky bits?
As the song goes, lets not focus on the little things reflected back at us
Despite the awkwardness, Charles tried to save the day. Somehow. He could see things were going very wrong
But Nicholas dug his heels in just as Grandpa would say:
But how will I explain to Mum that Julia is now your wife?
With words! Amanda, whod been silent, snapped. Through your mouth just like everyone else does!
You just dont get it! Nicholas fumed, glaring at Amanda: how could she be so thick? Julias going to be at our wedding. With your dad. As his wife!
So what? the three of them chorused. Let her come!
Mum wont like it! Nicholas insisted.
Well, she doesnt have to come, does she? Charles replied dryly. Well manage to survive the disappointment.
Right, girls?
The women nodded.
How can Mum not come? Nicholas asked in genuine surprise.
So who shouldnt come, then? Charles asked slyly after a pause. Dont answer I know: Julia, right?
Well, yes! Nicholas admitted.
Dont you worry the two of you you and your mum might break, son? Charles asked, suddenly frostily.
Amanda saw it all clearly now. Julia had actually waited far too long to escape such happiness.
So you refuse to compromise? Nicholas asked, thick-headedly.
Compromise on what?
Well, Julia and I have nothing but bad memories together, so better not to meet at all!
Youre right! I completely agree! Much better not to see you again, Charles beamed. Amanda, shall we give your fiancé and his mummy a bit of peace and quiet?
Amanda nodded, utterly speechless. She realised there would be no second round.
And now it was up to Dad to do the only sensible thing: politely ask Nicholas to leave with his mother.
Well then, Charles said calmly, I see how it is off you go to your mother, marry her if you like, I wish you the best of luck.
Nicholas was silent, lost for words. He certainly hadnt expected this turn he and his mother were being thrown out!
How could he possibly forgive this? And his mother never would
Wait, are you actually kicking me out? Nicholas tried one last time.
Well, my dear boy, youve left us no choice, Charles said, smiling. Lets just all stop contact its the only sensible way forward. Well all benefit! Good for the constitution
Nicholas never saw that coming. Honest to God, it was the right move.
But hed imagined Julia would be the one shown the door, not him and his dear mother.
Why them? They were the wronged party here. Werent they?
Amanda sat silently, looking away. She was in complete agreement with her dad.
In fact, any fondness for Nicholas had shriveled fast after this episode. Shame and disappointment swelled up inside her one more word, shed explode.
Julia stayed quiet, standing by her new fiancé.
In the end, Nicholas had to go. Before he left, he shot Amanda a loaded look.
Are you really going to let our happiness go so easily? Ill go for good and youll be alone. Chuck Julia out, and problem solved!
But nobody even considered showing Julia the door.
After her now ex-fiancé left, everyone sat down at the feast. But it all felt like an awful joke: what kind of happy marriage could you have after a breakup like that?
Though, counting Julia, this wasnt even the first failed wedding in their family. They could only hope Charles and Julia would fare better.
Amanda felt wretched, at rock bottom.
Chin up, sweetheart its easier to push off from the bottom, comforted her loving father. And youve not even hit bottom yet: Nicholas and his mum would have dragged you there!
Theyd have pulled you under for good!
Youve just shifted the weight in the nick of time!
Yeah, Amanda agreed gloomily: dreams and wedding plans down the drain. For a woman her age, a wedding was everything.
It hurt, but shed survive.
Thank goodness you didnt get married and have a baby, her dad summed up. His mum wouldve eaten you alive!
Absolutely! agreed Julia, who knew a thing or two about it.
So they raised a glass to freedom: from ropes, chains, spells the whole lot!
And from love, too. Was it even love? There was definitely love for his mother. For anyone else? That was a big question.
Some questions are best left unanswered. So, be happy, Nicholas. With your mother, of course.
If you can, that is. Yet another questionBut as Amanda sat among the mismatched dinner plates, listening to Julia and Charles joke quietly while the clink of glasses softened the room, she felt something shift inside her. The storm had passed. What lingered wasnt bitterness or regret, but reliefpowerful, electric, alive.
Maybe weddings fell apart. Maybe fairytales spun out into the ordinary and the true villains were only people, hurting and hurt, tangled up with their mothers, their histories, and their own stubborn pride. Amanda felt a flicker of something close to hope. After all, if love could go so spectacularly wrong, maybe it could also go unexpectedly, delightfully rightmaybe not with dazzling, dangerous men, but with people who offered warmth, laughter, and a clean table to share.
Tonight was not a celebration, but it was a beginningand Amanda realized she had mistook endings for ruin, when sometimes they were gifts. If only she had listened soonernot to Nicholas, or to her own anxious heart, but to her fathers gentle assurance: Life is easier with good people in the house.
Amanda reached for her fathers hand and squeezed it. Freedom never tasted so much like home.
Somewhere, in another house far away, Nicholas and his mother were probably circling the old stories, too frightened to change. But here, Amanda felt light, unafraid at last. The future was hers, messy, wide-open, utterly unpredictable.
She raised her glass to her new familyand to herself.
This was the true wedding: a gathering, a rescue, a toast to all the women whod chosen themselves, and the courage to say goodbye.
