From the moment my fiancé Caleb’s daughter Lila, who was four years old at the time, jumped up in the middle of the ceremony and declared, “Daddy, don’t marry her! “, my wedding day appeared to be a scene straight out of a fairytale. “You already have a wife,” she said. After that, she indicated a dark figure that was located outside the window.
I had always imagined that my wedding day would be full with joy, affection, and excitement, and as I made my way down the aisle, I felt as though my ideal was finally making its way into reality.
There was a soft glow emanating from the candlelight, which mixed with the aroma of freshly cut roses to fill the room. At the altar, Caleb stood looking just as dazzling as he had on the day that we first met.
Three years had passed since the first time we had come into contact with one another at a friend’s BBQ. The kindness and laid-back character of Caleb drew me in, even though I wasn’t looking for love at the time.
The conversations that started off as casual discussions about work and novels quickly turned into extended evenings filled with happiness. Almost immediately, we were able to connect, and after a few months, I was unable to imagine my life without him.
One evening, not too long after we had begun dating, Caleb revealed something to me as we were eating dinner together.
Then he said, “Elise, there is something that you need to be aware of.” “My daughter is my child. Lila is her name, and she is four years old. I need you to give some thought to whether or not you are prepared for it. mainly due to the fact that I would want to know immediately if this does not work for you.
“Is that your daughter?” I repeated myself. Are you a mother to a daughter?
The problem is that I was completely unprepared for this. My lack of awareness was not due to the fact that I believed Caleb was keeping something from me; rather, it was because we had been so engrossed in the thrill of getting to know one other that I had not even considered the possibility.
It was Elise who he referred to as his “universe.” “I don’t want either you or she to be down in the dumps. You are free to take as much time as you need to consider this matter. I simply… I have to be completely forthright about it.
I was able to perceive the vulnerability that was present in his eyes. As I observed him, I could tell that he was getting ready to be turned down.
It was with great caution that I said, “I need to reflect on this.” “Not because I am uncertain about how I feel about you, but because I want to be certain that I can give her and you what you deserve,” she said.
That is the only thing I could possibly ask for. Don’t rush things….”
Throughout the subsequent few days, I was unable to stop thinking about what Caleb had said. As I saw a young girl with Caleb’s warm eyes, I couldn’t help but wonder what her life had been like up until that point. Are you going to accept me, or do you think she will consider me an outsider? To what extent was I prepared to assume the role of a stepmother?
I asked Caleb to meet me at our favorite café after I had finally made up my mind about what I wanted to do.
I took a big breath and remarked to Caleb, “I’m in this for the long journey.” I said this as he proceeded to sit down. In the event that Lila is included in the bundle, then I would like to meet her.
He grinned and said, “Thank you, Elise,” as he felt a profound sense of relief. “That is the most important thing to me.”
“At what time can I see her?” I inquired about it.
He laughed out loud.
The question was posed by him, “How about this weekend?” Since I told her that I was seeing someone else, she has been inquiring about you ever since I told her.
On the Saturday after that, I found myself standing in front of Caleb’s house, holding a tiny batch of cookies that I had cooked the previous evening.
When he opened the door, I could see Lila peering out from behind his leg. My heart was racing.
When Caleb stepped aside, he stated in a friendly manner, “Elise, this is Lila.”
I was the subject of Lila’s brilliant gaze for a brief period before she smiled in a shy manner.
Her greeting was “Hello,” and she was holding a plush rabbit to her chest.
I responded by stooping down to her level and saying, “Hi, Lila.” For your pleasure, I baked these cookies. It is my wish that you enjoy chocolate chip.
As she took the bag away from me, she shouted, “I am in love with chocolate chip!”
As soon as that moment occurred, the stress was released.
Within a few of minutes, Lila was demonstrating her most cherished toys to me, taking me to her playroom, and asking me a nonstop stream of questions. A look on Caleb’s face conveyed to me that he was genuinely delighted as he saw us from the doorway.
Later that evening, as Lila was dozing off on the couch, he came up with the statement, “She likes you.”
“I like her too,” I answered with a smile on my face. “Caleb, she is truly unforgettable.”
It was impossible for me to deny the fact that Lila had already taken a piece of my heart, despite the fact that becoming a stepmother was not something I had ever imagined myself doing.
Exactly one year ago, when Caleb made the proposal, Lila had shrieked with happiness.
It’s going to be you who is my mother! While she was closely hugging my legs, she had said.
At that same instant, I had the impression that we were on the same page, constructing a happy little family together.
To fast forward to the present day, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy as I saw Lila smiling in her flower girl attire.
In the moments leading up to the beginning of the ceremony, everything was going swimmingly.
He said, “If there is anyone who is opposed to this union, that person should speak now or forever hold your peace.”
With the exception of the faint sound of someone shifting in their chair, the room dropped into complete silence. I anticipated that the moment would go by without any drama. Instead, the sound of Lila’s soft voice resounded; it was as clear as a chime.
“Daddy, you are not allowed to marry her!”
My heart sunk when I heard a gasp that reverberated across the room.
I was taken aback and turned to Lila. “Sweetheart, what exactly did you say here?”
As she stood up from her seat, Lila turned her attention to Caleb.
“Daddy, stay away from marrying her,” she pleaded. “You are already married to someone.”
As I snapped my head toward Caleb, I anticipated an instantaneous denial; yet, his look echoed my confusion regarding the situation.
“Lila,” he asked in a soft voice, “what have you been talking about?”
Lila indicated the large window with a glass pane that was located at the back of the room. “There she is!” you exclaim.
There was a shadowy figure who waved at us from the window, and everyone turned their heads toward it. I was completely unable to realize what was taking place. So, who was that? Is it possible that Lila is telling the truth?
I lowered myself to Lila’s level and maintained a calm voice despite the turmoil that was occurring in my chest. “Sweetheart,” I inquired, “whose name is that?” Are you serious? Daddy already has a wife, what do you mean?
Lila gave a slight nod.
Her words were resounding with conviction: “That is Daddy’s wife.”
In an effort to make out the dim light, Caleb moved closer to the window and strained his eyes.
His mumbled response was, “I… I don’t understand.”
“Caleb,” I uttered….” what exactly is going on? What is her name?
“I swear, Elise, I have no idea what Lila is talking about. I have no ideas.” He lowered himself to her level and asked, “Lila, who is that outside?” while kneeling down to her level.
With a stern yet unruffled gaze, Lila cocked her head to the side. I am your wife, Daddy,” she said. During the wedding, she was present.
Every single person let out a collective gasp.
Calleb, is there something that you haven’t shared with me yet? I inquired about it.
It’s not Elise. I do not… “Just give me a moment to figure out who that person is,” he said as he walked away from the altar.
During that time, I stood there with my heart pounding against my chest.
As he exited the room and shut the door behind him, the murmurings that were occurring in the space became increasingly audible.
It was only through the window that I was able to make out Caleb having a conversation with the stranger. While I was watching, I saw that his body language went from tight to… Did you find that amusing?
As I turned to look at Lila, I noticed that she was seated in a calm manner, as if she hadn’t just turned the entire ceremony upside down.
The door opened with a creak a few minutes later, and Caleb strolled back in with a grin on his face. When he looked over, he saw a familiar face.
Nora, who had previously worked as Lila’s nanny, was seen carrying something in her hands.
Confusion increased throughout me. It’s Nora, right? I yelled out, up the volume of my voice somewhat. What are you doing in this location?
When Nora took a step forward, she was holding a pink teddy bear in her hand, and her smile was identical to Caleb’s.
What exactly is the intended meaning of that? I inquired while casting a glance between the two of them.
With a grin, Caleb shook his head, giving the impression that he was unable to accept the circumstances himself.
At the same time, he motioned to the bear and said, “Elise, please meet Mrs. Fluff.”
“What is it?” When I inquired, I felt even more disoriented than I had previously.
“Mrs. Fluff,” Caleb murmured, casting a glance in Lila’s favor. She made the decision that this teddy bear was my wife when she was three years old. When we were younger, we used to play a game in which she would marry me to the bear, and we would all laugh at its absurdity. It has been years since I’ve given it any thought.
With a joyful expression, Lila clapped her hands.
She is your wife, Daddy! Come on! Considering that you are already married to Mrs. Fluff, you are not allowed to marry Elise!
It was obvious that Nora was attempting to hide her delight as she chuckled. Lila has been spending her time on YouTube watching prank videos. She wanted to pull off a “wedding surprise,” and I decided that I couldn’t say no to assisting her in this endeavor.
By the time Nora had done explaining everything, the room was filled with laughing.
Guests who had been muttering in a state of bewilderment just a few moments earlier were now wiping tears of joy from their eyes.
I looked at Lila, who was wearing a grin on his.
As I struggled to suppress the temptation to both chuckle and reprimand, I addressed Lila and asked, “Lila, do you know how worried you made me?”
“It was hilarious, Elise!”
And with a chuckle in his voice, Caleb picked her up and shook his head.
He began by saying, “Young lady.” “You have a lot of explaining to do,” the speaker said.
As she wrapped her arms around his neck, Lila laughed and laughed. “Daddy, you’re not all that angry, are you?”
Caleb moaned loudly as he kissed her on the forehead. How am I able to be? But we can’t have any more jokes at weddings, please.
Lila smiled and said, “Okay,” but the teasing glitter in her eyes made me wonder how long that promise would be kept. “Okay,” she said.
My attention was drawn to Nora, who was resting casually against the wall, obviously taking pleasure in the commotion that she had contributed to creating. It’s a stroke of good fortune that this turned out to be funny, Nora. I had come dangerously close to sobbing.
The words “I know, I know” were spoken by Nora as she displayed her hands in a faux surrender. It had been weeks since Lila has been plotting this. It was impossible for me to say no to her repeated declarations that “Daddy is going to be so surprised!” When all was said and done, Mrs. Fluff was deserving of a comeback.
When the officiant reached that point, he cleared his throat.
In light of the fact that the issue of the ‘first wife’ had been handled, he inquired, “Shall we proceed with this?”
After carefully repositioning Lila in her seat, Caleb turned his attention to me.
He inquired in a low voice, “Are you okay?”
As I squeezed his hand, I smiled softly. “After the vows, you should ask me again.”
In spite of the fact that the day had not gone exactly as planned, the ceremony continued, and it was an unforgettable experience. At the same time as we were exchanging rings, I caught a glimpse of Lila, who gave me a sly thumbs-up from her seat.
In the later part of that evening, when Caleb and I were dancing, I moved in close to him and whispered, “You know, this might not have been the wedding I imagined, but I think it was even better.”
While he smiled, he slowly spun me around. “What am I supposed to say? Unpredictability is something that will always be a part of life while you are with Lila.
“And a lot of fun,” I added as I caught sight of Lila dancing with Nora in the middle of the floor while still holding Mrs. Fluff. We were both still holding Mrs. Fluff.
