My bride told me to say no before the altar. She requested my faith, and I did. Nobody predicted what occurred next. Not even I.
Wedding day surprises are said to be expected. Five words nearly stopped my heart.
Say no at the altar.
Let me start at the beginning before explaining what happened next. My bride told me to say no before the altar. She requested my faith, and I did. Nobody predicted what occurred next. Not even I.
Wedding day surprises are said to be expected. Five words nearly stopped my heart.
Say no at the altar.
Let me start at the beginning before explaining what happened next.
“Don’t you feel like the luckiest guy in the world?” Emily asked as we sat on our living room floor with wedding brochures, color swatches, and venue booklets.
“Yes, yes. I do!” I laughed when I saw a shot of a beautiful outdoor venue with oak tree string lights.
Emily jokingly bumped my shoulder. “Save those exact words for the ceremony, Adam.”
I pulled her close with my arm around her shoulders.
“This one looks perfect,” I remarked, tapping the outside venue snap. “I can picture you walking down that aisle already.”
Emily rested her head on my chest.
“Me too,” she said. “I’d marry you anyplace. Even the courthouse.”
“I know you would,” I said. “But you deserve the wedding you’ve been dreaming about.”
She dreamed about it almost her whole life.
Emily and I met three years ago at work. My first impression of the new account manager was her kindness.
Emily arrived early to ask how people were doing, recalling details of their lives most would forget, while other executives concentrated on analytics and deadlines.
Emily secretly sent meals to Ben from accounting’s house for two weeks during his divorce. Emily covered three presentations without being asked when Maria’s son was hospitalized.
She didn’t do this for praise. Often, nobody knew about it.
I loved her because of her kindness. When most individuals look out for themselves, Emily looked out for others.
After dating for months, we got engaged, and I couldn’t have wished for a better companion.
Emily was thrilled to arrange our wedding.
She would pull out an old, faded photo album from her youth and flick through pages of magazine cutouts, princess gowns, and painstakingly scribbled “future wedding ideas” in a child’s handwriting whenever we discussed logistics.
“I’ve dreamed about this day since I was little,” she said. “And I’m so happy it’s with you.”
Planning our wedding made me more sure than ever that marrying Emily was the best decision of my life.
Emily’s stepmother Margaret was the sole flaw in our plans.
At our engagement meal, she squinted her eyes and asked if Emily’s ring’s diamond was “real or one of those lab-grown ones.”
Margaret groaned and said “wasting money on frivolous things.” as Emily showed her the venue possibilities.
Emily never criticized Margaret, but I noticed her shoulders tensing when her stepmother approached.
However, she insisted on incorporating Margaret in wedding preparations, adding, “My dad’s wife for 15 years. It matters to him.”
I was surprised how quickly the big day came.
I was excited as I adjusted my boutonnière for the hundredth time in a venue side room. Within an hour, Emily would be my bride.
But suddenly everything changed.
She placed a small folded note in my palm after we sat at the welcome table, hands interlocked.
Five simple words made my heart skip a beat.
Say no at the altar.
I murmured, “What?” to her, bewildered.
“Just trust me,” she said, holding my hand. “Do it.”
I wanted to argue. Demand answers. Something in her gaze stopped me. Emily wasn’t scared. She wasn’t scared. She planned.
I trusted her.
The time came.
I stood before the officiant who asked, “Do you take Emily to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
I paused long enough to confuse the guests. Emily nodded almost imperceptibly when her eyes met mine. My lips dried up as I replied.
“No,” I answered.
Closed my eyes, I hoped I hadn’t trusted Emily wrong. What was she thinking? Why did she beg me to decline?
My thoughts were disturbed by laughter.
It was a special laugh from across the room. Quite cold. Sharp. Cruel.
She was at the source when I turned.
Emily’s stepmother Margaret.
She clapped gently with a triumphant look.
“Well, well,” she purred. “Told you. I told everyone.”
The startled stillness was deafening. Emily looked strangely relaxed. She squeezed my hand again, calming my rushing heart. Whatever happened, she expected it.
Margaret sighs and shakes her head at Emily’s father.
“We paid so much for this wedding,” she laughed. “I told you it was dumb. A complete waste of money. But you had to accept her tiny fantasy.” She enthusiastically motioned toward the decked venue. And for what? To witness her humiliation? I could have predicted this!”
Dad just stared at Emily. The disdain and despair in his eyes were obvious.
Margaret returned to Emily.
“You really thought he’d marry you?” she scowled. I told you, honey. No one wants you.”
Something snapped inside me. I moved forward to defend Emily, but she gently touched my arm.
Her eyes told me to wait.
Emily’s father froze. He couldn’t believe Margaret said that.
“Thank you, Margaret,” Emily assured.
“For what?” Margaret asked.
“For showing your true colors.”
Margaret widened her eyes at Emily.
I knew Emily’s plan then. I was really proud of her. Very proud that my bold Emily hadn’t planned a wedding. Her plan was considerably grander.
She advanced as I watched.
“Since we’re all sharing our thoughts today,” she said, looking at her father, “let me finally tell you the truth about Margaret.”
The room quieted.
Emily turned to address everyone, but her remarks were for her father.
“You’ve always thought she was’strict’ with me to ‘teach me responsibility.’ But she shattered me whenever she could.”
Though Margaret rolled her eyes, Emily’s voice grew stronger.
I was never ‘good enough.’ Not ‘grateful enough’ or ‘beautiful enough.’ She made me feel inferior and unwelcome. a weight you had to carry after Mom died.”
I saw Emily’s father’s face change with each syllable.
How had he missed this?
The times Emily said Margaret’s behavior “wasn’t worth causing family drama.” came to mind.
Emily spoke to her father again, this time with pain.
Dad, I told you. I told you how she treated me without you. How she called me pathetic, laughed at my dreams, and said no one would ever love me. Every time I attempted to show you, she’d twist it and make me look dramatic.”
Emily made fists at her sides.
I understood what she wanted when she said you were wasting your money on this wedding and Adam would abandon me at the altar. She wanted to shame me. To finally show you I was a failure like she said.”
She inhaled slowly and raised her chin.
So I fulfilled her request. I made her think she won.”
A realization rippled through guests.
“I knew her reaction would be obvious if Adam said no. She will surely slap it on my face.”
Emily kept staring at her father.
“You never trusted me before. But now you believe me?”
Her father nods.
He stood with sunk shoulders, as if holding everything he’d done. He ignored his daughter’s grief for years, choosing peace above truth.
He eventually understood his error.
Margaret scoffed, attempting to maintain her dignity. Oh, please. He wouldn’t marry you. Just called it beforehand.”
Emily smiled wider.
“That’s where you’re wrong.” She faced me. “Because he is going to marry me.”
I grin. “Damn right, I am.”
Love for this woman who had endured so much and remained compassionate overcame me as I took Emily’s hands.
Margaret was surprised.
She started “You—” but Emily’s father appeared.
“We’re done, Margaret,” she said.
“What?”
“You humiliated my daughter at her own wedding,” he raged. “I should have seen it earlier.”
Margaret spluttered, trying to resist, but it was over.
Two of my groomsmen, security guards by day, volunteered. Margaret was softly but firmly removed as she yelled abuses.
The room relaxed as she closed the doors. Emily’s father approached us crying.
“Emily,” he said, “I’m sorry.”
Hugged him fiercely. I know, Dad. I know. It’s okay. No need to apologize.”
Emily sighed and looked at me.
“So… where were we?”
I smiled, kneeled, and asked, “Will you marry me?”
After comprehending what transpired, the crowd cheered and applauded.
I shouted yes this time when the officiant asked if I married Emily.
So I married the kindest woman I’ve ever met. I love Emily, my wife.