**Marrying the Wrong One**
Emily Whitaker couldnt do a thing about her only daughter, the strong-willed Sophie. Theirs was a respectable familySophies father, Edward Whitaker, was a doctor, and her mother worked as an accountant at a modest firm.
Sophie had fallen for Daniel, a decent and serious young man, but in Emilys eyes, he wasnt from the right background. Shed always dreamed of a different sort of son-in-law. Daniels mother had died in childbirth, leaving him to be raised by his father, Thomas, and his grandmother. When the old woman passed away during Daniels teens, it was just him and his dad. Thomas, a lorry driver, never remarried, devoting himself to his son.
The two had a solid bondunderstanding, supportive, no drinking habits, just hard work and respect. Daniel even took up boxing. Money was tight, but neither complained. Daniel never asked for expensive things, and Thomas was grateful for his sons maturity.
“Dad, Ive met this amazing girl, Sophie,” Daniel said one evening. “But her mum runs the show in their house. Mrs. Whitakers proper posh, and I reckon she cant stand me. Every time Im over, I can feel it.”
“Son, its not her mum who matters,” Thomas reassured him. “As long as you two love and understand each other, thats what counts.”
But Sophie and Daniel were blind to it all. They were in love, planning their wedding, while Emily quietly schemed to tear them apart. She couldnt accept her daughter marrying a mechanic.
The wedding itself felt more like a wake. The only smiles came from the bride, groom, and their mates.
“Not the wedding Id imagined for my only daughter,” Emily sighed, watching Sophie walk down the aislenot in white, but in a soft coffee-coloured dress that suited her caramel hair, crowned with a delicate wreath. And trainers.
Daniel matched her in a shirt of the same shade, jeans, and sneakers. To the younger crowd, it was bold and modern. To Emily, it was a catastrophe.
“Edward, what *is* this?” she hissed, nodding at the couple.
“Thats our daughter and her husband, Daniel,” he replied calmly.
“I meant their *outfits*,” she snapped.
“Whats wrong with them? Bit trendy, bit daringvery them,” Edward chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “Look at them. Theyd look good in anything.”
Emilys disapproval only grew at the sight of Daniels father, Thomas, in a worn-out suit, clearly uncomfortable at the upscale reception. Even worse was Sophies grandmother, Margaret, a stern old woman who had tried to talk her out of the marriage.
“Sophie, *please* call it off,” Margaret had pleaded. “That boys from a broken homeno mother, raised by a single father. No proper education, just a mechanic. How will he provide for you?”
“Gran, its not his fault his mum died. I dont care what he doeshes my other half. End of.”
Margaret huffed but saw Sophie wouldnt budge.
“Daughter, how could you let this happen?” she muttered to Emily during the reception.
“Mum, I tried everythingeven the impossible. You know Sophie. Once she digs her heels in, thats it.”
Margaret sighed. “No surprise there. Takes after *you*.”
“Dont start,” Emily snapped.
Years ago, Emily had been just as stubborn. When she met Edward in her late twenties, shed been pickyher suitors had to be university-educated, charming, and handsome. Edward, meanwhile, had been hung up on an old flame, Eleanor, whod toyed with him for yearsshowing up, vanishing, keeping him dangling.
Then he met Emilysharp, confident, and headstrong. She quickly won him over, and one day, while she was at his flat, Eleanor reappeared.
“Hello? Not letting me in now?” she cooed, as if shed just popped out for milknot been gone three months.
Just then, Emily appeared in a towel.
“And whos *this*?” Eleanor sneered.
“My girlfriend,” Edward said, pulling Emily close.
Eleanor left in a huff but later married and moved away. Emily had wonthough the memory still unnerved her.
Now, years later, Eleanor was back. A friends warning sent Emily into a tailspin. She forgot all about sabotaging Sophies marriage and turned detective, sniffing Edwards clothes, lurking outside his surgery.
“Honestly, Inna, why not hire a private investigator?” Edward teased one evening.
Emily gave up pretending. “Fine. I want to know if youd run off with *her* if she showed up.”
“She already did,” he smirked. “Came to my clinic. Missed that, didnt you?”
Emily panicked. “And?”
“And nothing. Blimey, my wifes *jealous*. Dont you know youre the only woman Ive ever loved?”
Relief washed over her. She clung to him, laughing.
Meanwhile, Sophie and Daniel settled into life together. Then, one evening at dinner, Sophie dropped the news.
“Mum, Dadyoure going to be grandparents.”
Emily nearly choked. “*What*?”
“You *do* know where babies come from, right?” Sophie grinned.
“Im too young to be a gran!”
“Then youll be a *young* gran,” Sophie shot back.
Emily sighed. If fateor Godhad decided to bless them with a grandchild, who was she to argue?
Edward was thrilled. Ahead lay nappies, sleepless nights, and a little one to spoil. Life hadnt gone as Emily plannedbut perhaps that was for the best.
