**Diary Entry**
*Well see about that*
“No! As long as were living in this madhouse with your mum and Lily, therell be no wedding!”
“Katie, love, why jump straight to the worst? We could rent the dresstheres still time. Or move the date if youd rather Cant we talk this through properly?” Daniel sighed.
“You dont understand,” Katie snapped, arms crossed. “Its not about the dress. Its about feeling like Im in a warzone here. Your sisters old enough to know better, but she hasnt got the sense God gave a goose. And honestly, its your mums fault more than anyones.”
Daniel bristled at that, though he couldnt deny there was some truth in it. Margaret had, whether by accident or design, turned Lily against Katie long before theyd even got engaged.
Theyd met at university, taking things slowlyneither had their own place back then. Daniel still lived with his family, insisting it was “just easier that way.”
“Ive got Grans old flat,” hed say. “Mum rents it out for now, but when we need it, well fix it up proper.”
A year later, they did need it. Daniel decided it was time to take the next step. Degrees in hand, jobs securedwhat was the point in waiting?
“Well stay with Mum a few months, then marry and move out,” hed said, sounding so sure. “Six months, tops, and well be on our own.”
At first, Katie had been thrilled. It sounded serious, grown-up. Then doubt crept intheyd never lived together, and now shed be thrown straight into the deep end with her future mother-in-law. Would it ruin everything?
Almost.
Margaret wasnt the classic nightmare mother-in-law, clinging to her son. Shed even offered to help with the wedding. She cooked for everyone, never picked fights, never made demands. The problem lay elsewhere.
Her parenting style was particular. She was stricter with Lilyunderstandably, given how spoiled the girl wasbut subtlety wasnt Margarets strong suit.
One evening, Katie overheard them arguing while making tea. Margaret had found fresh poor marks in Lilys schoolbook.
“Oh, for heavens sake Couldnt you just learn the poem?” Margaret sighed. “Right, hand over your phone and tablet. Youll get the phone back when youve memorised it, and the tablet after youve scraped an A in English.”
Lily rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Fine, take them. Ill just ask Danny for his.”
Margaret smirked. “Think hell always be there to bail you out? Hell move out with Katie, start his own family, and forget all about us.”
“Well see about that!” Lily slammed her gadgets on the table and stormed off.
The door crashed shut. Katie hesitated, feeling like shed walked into someone elses dirty laundry. Margaret had gone too far, but calling her out felt awkward.
“Margaret, isnt that a bit harsh?” Katie ventured.
“Why? Better she learns nowlife isnt all beer and skittles.”
That “lesson” came back to bite Katie.
Shed noticed Lily avoiding herskipping meals, leaving when she entered a room. At first, Katie thought it was shyness. Then came the little sabotages: hiding the remote in a heatwave, ruining Katies makeup. When Daniel put a lock on their door, Lily threw a fit.
“How am I supposed to do my schoolwork now?” she wailed.
“Youll use the computer when Im here,” Daniel said firmly.
“You never locked your door before!”
“Before, I lived alone. And before, you didnt rifle through my things.”
“I never did! Your precious Katies lying! I hate her!”
Lily locked herself in her room, sobbing all evening. Katie didnt know what to think. The girls behaviour grated, but stirring the pot felt worse.
“Shes just a kid,” Daniel would say, shrugging.
“That kid is twelve,” Katie countered. “Dan, cant we just rent somewhere?”
“Come on, its only a few more months. Mum says well be out in four.”
Four months. To Daniel, it was nothing. To Katie, it felt endless.
She tried bonding with Lilybringing chocolates, asking about school. Lily would shrug, take the sweets, and that was that. Things only got worse.
One morning, rushing out, Katie hung her bag by the door. At work, she realised someone had rifled through it. No time to checkbut when she got home, her keys were gone. She had to wait an hour for Margaret to let her in.
She knew where theyd gone. A quiet word with Margaret got them back, but the damage was done. After that, Katie guarded her things fiercely. Daniel, though, still left doors unlockedwhich led to disaster.
The day before the wedding, chaos ruled. Decorations, calls to guests, last-minute checksno one noticed Lily. That evening, Katie opened the wardrobe to admire her dress only to find it slashed to ribbons. She knew whod done it.
Her hands shook. Rage and helplessness choked her. She dragged Daniel to see the ruins, speechless.
“You little brat!” Margaret screamed at Lily. “I ought to take a belt to you! Did you pay for that dress? Youll work for every penny!”
Lily got the thrashing of her life, but the dressand Katies nerveswere beyond saving.
She refused compromises. No rented dress, no rescheduled date. She wouldnt bend to someone elses tantrums.
“Katie, just sleep on it. Well sort it tomorrow”
“No. Its too late. Either we live alone, or we dont live together at all.” Katie sighed. “Im done waiting for your mum to hand over *your* flat. Done with your sister digging through my things. A relationship takes work, but not like this. Im not even your wife yet, and Im already exhausted.”
She stuffed her charger into her bag, digging for her documents.
“Where are you going? The renovation wont last forever”
Every excuse rang hollow now. She spent that night at a friends, crying herself raw. Yesterday, shed been a happy bride. Now, she didnt know where to turn.
Daniel called a hundred times in three days. On the third, she finally answered.
“Katie, I know its rubbish. Were all gutted. But dont throw us away over this. Well buy another dresstoday. Just dont leave.”
She hesitated. Daniel was a good mankind, patient, just a bit oblivious. She loved him. But
“If we marry, its on my terms.”
“Which are?”
“Just us. No help, no spectators. Weve celebrated enough with your lot. A small dinner later, thats it. And we rent a place. I wont live like a fugitive in my own home.”
Silence. Harsh terms, but she couldnt bend further.
“Alright,” he finally said.
The wedding was quietjust the registry office, photos, then three days alone in the countryside. No fuss, no family dramas.
Daniels lot were miffed, but Katie didnt care. This day wasnt for them. Some hadnt even earned a cup of tea in her eyes.
At the dinner, Lily was meek as a lamblikely scolded into silence. Katie didnt call it a victory. Shed never wanted a war, but if it came to it Well, shed guard her peace fiercely now. Maybe Lily was just a child. Maybe Margaret meant well. But some doors were better kept shut.
