Oh, poor Emily Whitmore couldnt do a thing with her only daughter, the headstrong Sophie. Their family was well-offSophies father, James Whitmore, was a doctor, and Emily worked as an accountant at a small firm.
Sophie had fallen for Daniel, a decent, kind-hearted bloke, but Emily couldnt stand the idea. To her, he wasnt from the right sort of family. Daniels mother had passed away giving birth to him, so he was raised by his dad, Thomas, and his gran, Margaret. His gran was poorly a lot, and when Daniel was fifteen, she passed too, leaving just him and his dad. Thomas never remarriedhe worked as a lorry driver at a factory.
But they had a close bond. Thomas never touched a drop, always supported his son, and Daniel was into sports. Money was tight, but neither complained. Daniel never asked for expensive things, and Thomas was grateful for that.
“Dad, Ive met this amazing girl, Sophie,” Daniel said one evening. “But her mumEmilyshes proper posh. I dont think she likes me much. Every time Im at their place, I can feel it.”
“Son,” Thomas reassured him, “its not about her mum. If you two love each other and understand each other, thats all that matters.”
But Sophie and Daniel were too wrapped up in each other to care. They were in love, planning their wedding, while Emily quietly plotted to break them up. She couldnt stand the idea of her daughter marrying a mechanic.
The wedding day was more like a wakeonly the bride, groom, and their mates were smiling.
“Honestly, is this what my only daughters wedding should look like?” Emily muttered, staring at Sophie in her cream-coloured dressnot even white!with a floral crown and, worst of all, *trainers*.
Daniel matched her, wearing a shirt the same shade with jeans and trainers too. To the younger crowd, it was bold and modern, but Emily was horrified.
“James, what *is* this?” she hissed, nodding at the couple.
“Thats our daughter and our son-in-law, Daniel,” James said calmly.
“I meant their *outfits*,” she snapped.
“They look brilliant. Fresh, modernvery them,” James grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “Theyre happy, love. Thats what matters.”
Emily wasnt just bothered by the clothesshe barely tolerated Thomas, sitting there in his worn-out suit, looking entirely out of place. But the real critic was Sophies gran, Margaret, a stern old lady whod tried talking her into calling it off.
“Sophie, love, *please* rethink this. Daniels from a broken homeno mother, just his dad. Hes barely got an education. Hows he going to provide for you? A *mechanic*?”
“Gran, Daniel didnt choose his family. Hes my other half. End of.”
Margaret huffed but realised her granddaughter had grown up with a mind of her own.
“Emily,” she whispered at the reception, “how could you let this happen?”
“Mum, I tried *everything*,” Emily sighed. “But you know Sophieonce shes set on something, thats it.”
“Takes after you, then,” Margaret muttered.
“Dont start,” Emily said sharply.
When *shed* met James, they were both nearly thirty. Emily had been pickymost suitors had never met Margarets standards. Shed wanted someone educated, funny, and handsome.
James had been single because hed been hung up on a girl named Emmawhod strung him along for years, taking his gifts and affection before vanishing, only to reappear when *she* fancied it.
Then he met Emilysharp, clever, and knowing her worth. She was stubborn, but he fell for her. One evening, while she was at his flat, the doorbell rang. Emma stood there, pouting.
“James, arent you going to let me in? Ive missed you!”
Then Emily appeared, wrapped in a towel.
“Whats *this*?” Emma sneered.
“This,” James said, pulling Emily close, “is the woman I love.”
Emma stormed off, but she didnt give up easily. She even married someone else and moved away, but Emily only relaxed when she heard Emma had left town.
James never won Margaret over, but he didnt care. He knew no man would ever be good enough for her daughterespecially not just a doctor who couldnt fix a tap.
At the wedding, James caught Emily and Margaret whispering.
“Talking about me again?” he teased.
“Oh, we finished discussing *you* twenty years ago,” Emily shot back. “Now were on to your son-in-law.”
“Daniels a good lad. Life will sort them out.”
The night ended, the couple went to a hotel, and afterwards, they moved in with Sophies parentsEmilys idea. She hadnt given up.
“Before they have kids, Ill split them up,” she thought.
But fate had other plans. Years later, Emilys friend told her *Emma* was back in town. Panicked, Emily started spying on Jameschecking his clothes, even waiting outside his surgery.
Finally, James had enough.
“Emily, love, why not hire a private investigator if youre that bothered?”
She didnt deny it.
“Just wondering if youd run off if Emma turned up.”
“She already did,” he smirked. “You missed it.”
“*When?!*”
“Last week. Came to my clinic.”
“And?”
“Nothing. Bloody hell, my wifes *jealous*.” He pulled her close. “Dont you know theres only one woman I love? *You*.”
Emily laughed, relieved. She *did* trust him.
Meanwhile, Sophie and Daniel were happy. One evening at dinner, Sophie grinned.
“Mum, Dadyoure going to be grandparents!”
“*What?!*” Emily yelped, while James beamed.
“Mum, dont you know where babies come from?” Sophie teased.
“Of *course* I dobut so *soon*? Im not ready to be a gran!”
“Too late,” Sophie laughed.
Emily sighed. If fate had stepped in to protect them, who was she to argue?
James, though, was over the moon. He couldnt wait. Life had its own rules, and sometimesjust sometimesthey worked out perfectly.
