**”Well See About That”**
“No! As long as we live in this madhouse with your mother and Lily, there will be no wedding!”
“Katie, must you be so hasty? We could rent the dresswe still have time. Or postpone it if youd rather… Cant we sort this calmly?” sighed Daniel.
“You dont understand,” Katie folded her arms. “Its not about the dress. Its about living like Im on the front lines here. Your sisters grown yet hasnt an ounce of sense. And honestly, your mother, Margaret, is to blame for most of it.”
Daniel didnt care for such remarks, though part of him knew Katie wasnt entirely wrong. Years ago, Margaretwhether by accident or designhad turned Lily against her future sister-in-law.
Katie and Daniel had met at university. Their relationship had moved slowly, neither having a place of their own at the time. Daniel still lived with his familyfor convenience, as he put it.
“Ive got my grandmothers flat. Mum lets it out for now, but well fix it up when we need it,” hed say.
A year later, they did need it. Daniel decided it was time to take the next step. Both had graduated, found workno sense in waiting.
“Well stay with Mum a while, then marry and move,” hed planned aloud. “Six months at most, and well be on our own.”
Katie had been pleased at first. It sounded serious. Then doubt crept in: theyd never lived together, and now shed be thrust into a household with her future mother-in-law. Would it smother what they had?
Nearly so.
Margaret wasnt the typical meddling mother-in-law. Shed even offered to help with the wedding. She cooked well, never quarrelled, made no demands. The trouble lay elsewhere.
Her parenting was… particular. She was stricter with Lily, her youngest, and perhaps rightly sothe girl was spoiled rotten. But Margarets approach lacked finesse.
Once, while making tea, Katie overheard a scene. Margaret was flipping through Lilys schoolbook, spotting fresh poor marks and another note on behaviour.
“Again? Was the poem so hard to learn?” Margaret sighed. “Hand over your phone and tablet. No distractions till your grades improve.”
Lily clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes.
“Take them, then. Daniel will lend me his.”
“Oh, I doubt that,” Margaret smirked. “You think hell always shield you? Hell marry, have children of his ownforget us soon enough.”
“Well see about that!” Lily flung the gadgets onto the table and stormed off.
The door slammed. Katie glanced awkwardly at Margaret, feeling shed intruded on private strife. She sensed Margaret had gone too far, but it wasnt her place to say.
“Margaret, isnt that a bit harsh?” Katie ventured.
“Shell learn. The world wont spoon-feed her forever.”
That lesson backfired.
Lily had always kept her distanceskipping meals, avoiding conversation. At first, Katie thought her shy. Then came the mischief: hiding the remote in a heatwave, ruining Katies makeup. When Daniel fitted a lock on their door, Lily shrieked:
“How am I meant to do my schoolwork now?”
“Youll use the computer under my watch,” Daniel said calmly.
“You never locked things before!”
“Before, I lived alone, Lily. And you didnt rummage through my belongings.”
“I never did! Katies lying! I hate her!”
Lily wept in her room all evening. Katie didnt know what to think. She loathed the girls behaviour but refused to escalate things.
“Shes just young,” Daniel would say.
“Shes twelve, Daniel. Cant we rent somewhere?”
“Come on, its only a few more months. Mum says well be sorted in four.”
Four monthsnothing to Daniel. An eternity to Katie.
She tried bonding with Lily, bringing chocolates, asking about school. Lily would mutter “fine,” snatch the sweets, and leave. Nothing changed. Only worsened.
One morning, rushing out, Katie hung her bag by the door. At work, she noticed it had been rifled throughbut no time to check. Later, she waited an hour for Margaret to let her in; her keys had vanished.
She knew where theyd gone. A whispered word to Margaret, and they were returnedbut the damage was done. Katie grew vigilant. Daniel, however, still left doors unlocked. Their undoing.
With the wedding nearing, no one had eyes for Lily. They decorated the car, called guests, finalised plans. That evening, Katie went to admire her dressonly to find it slashed to ribbons. She knew whod done it.
Her hands shook. Rage choked her. She dragged Daniel to the wardrobe, speechless.
“You wretched girl!” Margaret screamed. “I ought to tan your hide! That dress cost a fortune! Youll work every penny back!”
Lily was punished soundlybut the dress was ruined. So were Katies nerves.
She refused compromises. No rented dress, no postponement. She wouldnt bend to others whims.
“Katie, rest. Well sort it tomorrow,” Daniel pleaded.
“No, Daniel. Its too late. Either we live apart, or not at all.” Katie sighed. “Im tired of waiting for your mother to hand over your flat. Of your sisters antics. A relationship takes workbut not like this. Im not even your wife, and already Im fighting alone.”
She packed her charger, hunted for her documents.
“Where are you going? The renovations wont last forever”
She didnt listen. Every excuse rang hollow now.
That night, she stayed with a friend, wept on her shoulderbut found no peace. Yesterdays blushing bride, today adrift, unsure where to turn.
Daniel called a hundred times in three days. On the third, she answered.
“Katie, this is awful. Were shattered too. But must we end it? Well buy another dresstoday. Just dont go.”
She hesitated. Daniel was kind, thoughtful, well-manneredif a tad oblivious. She loved him. But…
“If we marry, its on my terms.”
“Which are?”
“No family helpand no family present. Weve celebrated enough with yours. A quiet dinner later, just us. And we rent a flat. I wont guard my things like a sentry.”
Silence. Harsh termsbut shed settle for nothing less.
“Alright,” Daniel finally said.
They married quietly. Signed the papers, took photos, then spent three days alone in the countryside. No feasts, no fuss.
Daniels family took offence. Katie didnt care. This day wasnt for them. At the dinner, Lily sat meeklylikely scolded into submission. Not that Katie counted it a victory. Shed never wanted a war. But if one had begun… well, shed hold the line. Lily was just a child, Margaret meant no harmbut some doors were best kept closed.
