“We’ll see about that!”
“No! As long as were living in this madhouse with your mum and Lizzie, there wont be any wedding!”
“Katie, love, why jump straight to that? We could rent a dresstheres still time. Or we could postpone it if you want We can sort this out calmly,” sighed Daniel.
“You dont get it,” Katie crossed her arms. “Its not about the dress. Its about feeling like Im in a war zone here. Your sisters old enough to know better, but shes still got the sense of a spoiled brat. And honestly? Your mums the real problem.”
Daniel bristled at her words, though he couldnt deny there was some truth in them. Years ago, Margaret haddeliberately or notturned his sister against his future wife.
Katie and Daniel had met at university. Their relationship had moved slowly, neither having their own place back then. Daniel still lived with his familyfor “convenience,” as he put it.
“Ive got my nans flat. Mums renting it out for now, but when we need it, well do it up,” hed say.
A year later, they finally needed it. Daniel decided it was time to take the next step. Both had graduated, found jobsno reason to wait.
“Well stay with Mum for a bit, then marry and move out,” he announced. “Six months, tops, and well be on our own.”
At first, Katie was thrilled. It sounded serious, mature. But then doubt crept intheyd never lived together, and now shed be stepping straight into a battlefield with his mother. Would it kill their love?
It nearly did.
Margaret wasnt the typical monster-in-law. Shed even offered to help with the wedding. She cooked for the family, never argued, never made demands. The problem lay elsewhere.
Her parenting style was unique. With Lizzie, her youngest, she was harsherperhaps rightly so. The girl was spoiled rotten, needing a firm hand. But Margarets approach lacked finesse.
One evening, Katie overheard a row while making tea. Margaret sat at the table, flipping through Lizzies schoolbook, finding fresh poor marks and another note about her behaviour.
“Oh, for heavens sake Was it really so hard to learn a simple poem?” Margaret sighed. “Rightphone and tablet, now. Hit the books. Youll get the phone back when youve memorised it. Tablets off-limits till you pull your grades up.”
Lizzie rolled her eyes.
“Fine, take them. Ill just borrow Daniels,” she snapped.
“Oh, Im sure you will,” Margaret smirked. “Think youll hide behind your brother forever? Hell move out with Katie, start his own family, forget all about us.”
“Well see about that!” Lizzie flung her gadgets onto the table and stormed off.
The door slammed. Katie glanced awkwardly at Margaret, feeling like shed intruded on something private. She could see Margaret had gone too farbut calling out a grown woman felt wrong.
“Margaret, isnt that a bit harsh?” Katie ventured.
“Why? Life isnt all sunshine and rainbows. She needs to hear the truth.”
That “truth” backfired spectacularly.
Katie had noticed Lizzie avoiding herskipping meals, leaving when they were all together. At first, she thought Lizzie was shy. Then came the petty sabotages: hiding the remote in a heatwave, ruining Katies makeup. When Daniel installed a lock on their door, Lizzie erupted.
“How am I supposed to do my homework without the computer?” she shrieked.
“Youll use it under supervision,” Daniel said calmly. “When Im here.”
“You never locked me out before!”
“Before, I lived alone. And you didnt go through my things.”
“I never did! Katies lying! I hate her!”
Lizzie locked herself in her room, sobbing all evening. Katie was at a loss. The girls behaviour infuriated her, but escalating things felt wrong.
“Shes just a kid,” Daniel shrugged.
“That kid is twelve,” Katie retorted. “Dan, maybe we should rent a place after all”
“Come on, its just a few more months. Mum says well be out in four.”
Four months. To Daniel, it was nothing. To Katie, an eternity.
She tried bonding with Lizziebringing chocolates, asking about school. Lizzie would mutter “fine,” snatch the sweets, and vanish. Nothing changed.
It only got worse.
One morning, rushing out, Katie hung her bag on the door and dashed to the bathroom. Later, she noticed it had been rifled throughbut no time to check; she was late. That evening, she waited an hour for Margaret to let her inher keys had mysteriously vanished.
Katie knew where theyd gone. She whispered as much to Margaret, who retrieved them after a row with Lizzie. But the damage was done.
Katie became vigilant. Daniel, however, still left doors unlocked. That sealed their fate.
On the weddings eve, no one had eyes for Lizzie. They were too busyfinalising plans, decorating the car, calling guests, the photographer Then, that night, Katie opened the wardrobe to admire her dressonly to find it slashed to ribbons. She knew whod done it.
Her hands shook. Fury and helplessness choked her. She dragged Daniel to the scene, speechless.
“You little monster!” Margaret screamed at Lizzie. “I ought to tan your hide! Did you pay for that dress? Youll work it off handing out flyers!”
Lizzie got what she deservedbut the dress was ruined. So were Katies nerves.
She refused compromises. No rented dress. No postponed wedding. She was done bending to others whims.
“Katie, just sleep on it. Well fix this tomorrow,” Daniel pleaded.
“No, Dan. Its too late. Either we live alone, or we dont live together at all,” Katie exhaled. “Im sick of waiting for your mum to hand over your own flat. Sick of your sister stealing from me. Relationships take workbut not like this. Im not even your wife yet, and Im already exhausted.”
She shoved her charger into her bag, hunting for her documents.
“Where are you going? The renovations wont last forever”
She didnt listen. Every excuse rang hollow now.
That night, she crashed at a friends, cried herself rawbut the anger remained. One day a happy bride, the next with nowhere to call home.
Daniel called a hundred times in three days. On the third, she finally answered.
“Katie, I know its bloody awful. Were gutted too. But dont throw us away over this. Well buy another dresstoday. Just dont leave.”
She hesitated. Daniel was a good mankind, thoughtful, if a bit oblivious. She loved him. But
“If we marry, its on my terms.”
“Which are?”
“A wedding just for us. No help, no spectators. Well do a dinner for close family later. And we rent a place. I wont live guarding my things.”
Silence. Harsh termsbut she wouldnt bend.
“Alright,” Daniel finally said.
The wedding was quiet. They signed the papers, took photos, then escaped to the countryside for three daysjust them. No fuss, no drama.
Daniels family sulked. Katie didnt care. This day wasnt for them. Some didnt even deserve an invite.
At the dinner, Lizzie sat meeklylikely scolded into submission. Katie didnt call it a victory. Shed never wanted a war. But if this was the price of peace? Fine. Shed guard her borders fiercely.
Lizzie might just be a child. Margaret might mean well. But some doors were better left shut.
