You are familiar with the portion of weddings when the question “Does anyone object?” is asked. The majority of folks just sit silently. Who is my mother? She saw that as a personal invitation to ruin my future in front of everyone else, and she did so. But what she didn’t know was that my fiance, Noah, had the ideal response—one that would cause her to run out from the ceremony in complete and total shame.
To begin, allow me to take you back to the beginning.
I was surprised to see Noah at the most unlikely place—the subway. The train was almost completely empty, with just a few drowsy commuters making their way home for the night. It was almost midnight.
At the time that I became aware of him, I had just ended a demanding 12-hour shift at the hospital, where I work as a nurse, and I was on the verge of melting into the plastic seat. At the other end of the room from me was a guy who was absolutely engrossed in a weathered edition of The Great Gatsby. He was wearing a faded sweatshirt and beat-up shoes. His forehead was wrinkled, and it was obvious that his world was completely different from that train car.
Numerous times, I caught myself casting a glance in his direction. His demeanor was so flawlessly serene that it was almost unnoticeable.
My cheeks were flaming, and I immediately averted my gaze when he eventually glanced up and saw me gazing at him.
He stated this with a kind smile on his face. “Fitzgerald has that effect on people.” “It causes you to forget just where you are.”
I grinned in response. “I honestly don’t know. I have never had the opportunity to read it.
His eyes were bright with excitement. “Always? ” What are you losing out on?
Because to the length of the shifts, there is not much time for reading.
He indicated with a nod. Totally comprehensible. On the other hand, if we get together again, I’ll lend you my copy.
“Perhaps,” I said, not anticipating that I would ever see him again.
“Sometimes the best stories find us when we least expect them,” he observed as he got off at the next station. There were times when he was surprised to uncover the best stories.
After a week had passed, circumstances brought us back together in a spectacular way.
It was the top of the hour, and the train was completely full. During the time that I was holding to a rail and standing close to the entrance, someone grabbed my pocketbook with a strong pull and ran away in the direction of the exit.
“What’s up! Put a stop to! I shed tears, but no one seemed to care.
Except for Noah.
He made a dash through the throng, forcing his way past people who were shocked. The thief and he both fell out onto the platform at the next stop, which was exactly what happened. As I ran out after them, I was filled with fear.
By the time I arrived to them, the thief had already disappeared, but Noah was sitting on the ground, holding my bag tightly as he was out of breath. Above his eyebrow, a little cut was pouring out some blood.
As I assisted him in standing, I said, “You have a knack for making dramatic entrances.”
He wore a smile. “A copy of The Great Gatsby is still owed to you.”
I took him out for coffee that evening as a gesture of gratitude. A single cup of coffee turned into supper. After dinner, we went for a stroll back to our house. A kiss delivered at the conclusion of that trek caused my knees to collapse.
As time went on, we fell in love with each other.
But what about my mother? This man was intolerable to her.
After I informed her, she sneered and said, “A librarian?” The answer is Emma. You have a lot of room for improvement.”
I retorted, “He makes me happy,” while making an effort to keep my cool.
She sighed nervously and said, “Happiness does not pay the bills.”
Some people could describe my mother, Patricia, as ambitious, while others might call her deluded. She has spent her whole adult life acting as if we are more prosperous than we really are as a family. Wearing expensive clothing, mentioning famous people at parties, and boasting about vacations that were actually simple weekend getaways with creative camera angles are all examples of this.
As a result, I was pleased when Noah proposed to me with a sapphire ring that was both simple and magnificent.
While he was slipping it on my finger, he commented, “It reminded me of your eyes.”
The wrinkles on my mother’s nose appeared when I showed her.
“Is that all there is? Not even a quarter of a carat?
“Mum, it can’t be better.”
“All right… My guess is that it can be improved at a later time.
Noah’s first encounter with my family was a complete and utter failure.
My mother donned the most eye-catching jewelry she could find and chatted nonstop about her “close friend in Monaco who owns a yacht.” I am ninety percent certain that individual does not exist.
It is to Noah’s credit that he was kind and courteous. He brought a bottle of wine that was so rare that my father, Robert, almost lighted up. He complemented the décor, asked insightful questions about my mother’s work with charitable organizations, and brought a bottle of wine.
How did you come upon this item? As he turned the bottle in his hands, Dad posed the question.
Noah said, “It comes from a small vineyard in the Napa Valley.” It is a family friend who owns the business.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. What, family buddies who also happen to be vineyard owners? This is very handy.
“Patricia,” my father cautioned in a low voice.
Her demeanor seemed unaffected when she took a drink of her wine.
In the latter hours of the night, my father took me aside. I approve of him. It is true that he is a decent guy.
“Thank you very much, Dad.”
“She’ll come around,” he murmured, despite the fact that he was obviously uncertain about it himself.
“Regardless of whether or not she agrees, I will marry him.”
As time went on, the situation became more difficult. From Noah’s occupation (which she referred to as “Books are a dying industry!”) to his clothing (which she referred to as “Can’t he buy something tailored?”), Mom made fun of everything. She even attacked the location of the wedding, which was a historic library that Noah cherished.
It was the night before the wedding that she perched on the side of my bed and said, “It’s not too late, Emma. It will be understood by others.”
I was fixated on her. “I have feelings for him.”
“Love wears away. Neither does money.”
“He gives me a sense of security.”
“Before what? ” Textbooks with hardcovers?
I got to my feet. I was brought up by my father to seek happiness. I’m going to do it.”
She let out a sigh. In the future, I will behave. Do not, however, claim that I did not warn you.
“Just give me your word that you won’t cause a commotion.”
As she did so, she brought her hand to her chest. “Only what is most beneficial for you.”
Indeed, it ought to have been a warning sign.
The day that we were married was just stunning. The historic library was filled with sunlight that could be seen through the stained glass windows. As the guests took their seats, they were surrounded by rows of old books. The scent of flowers and paper was present in the air.
During the time that the music was playing and I was walking down the aisle with my father by my side, I saw Noah waiting with his eyes sparkling.
While my father was holding my hand in his, he said, “You are absolutely exquisite.”
Before the officiant made the following statement: “If anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your peace,” the ceremony was functioning well.
There is no sound.
I then heard the rustling of silk.
Upon turning around, I found my mother standing there. The pit of my stomach sank.
“I just need to speak my truth,” she remarked in a theatrical manner while rubbing her eyes with a lace handkerchief to conceal the tears that were not there. “I adore my youngest child. In spite of this, she made a disgusted motion at Noah and said, “This man is not worthy of her.” Her potential spouse may have been a surgeon. An attorney. A guy who is driven by ambition. As an alternative, she is squandering her whole life on… this.
Let out a gasp. There are whispers. The officiant was too cold to move.
My dad seemed to be humiliated. I had a sense of being well established in my position.
Next, Noah gave my hand a little squeeze and then switched his attention to her.
“You are absolutely correct,” he said in a composed manner. “She is deserving of one of the best.”
The smile on my mother’s face seemed to be one of triumph.
Then, Noah reached into the pocket of his suit and brought out a paper that was folded and presented it to her.
Bewildered, she said, “What exactly is this?”
“Your credit report,” was the response he gave.
It was completely silence in the room.
While she was looking at the paper, her face became pale.
Noah responded in a level-headed manner, “I did some research on the individual who talks so much about wealth.” It seems that you are deeply in debt from your credit card bills, that you are overdue on your second mortgage, and that you have lately been rejected a loan.
There were gasps heard across the audience.
She yelled out in a huff, “You took my privacy away!”
Noah wore a grin. “I conducted a check of the background. Before being married into a family, it is customary to do so. Moreover, I was curious as to the reasons for your intense hatred of me.
He hesitated for a moment.
“However, given that we are discussing the truth, allow me to add one more.”
After turning his back on her, he turned his back on the audience.
I am a billionaire. He said.
Lack of any sound. The champagne glass was dropped by an individual.
“What is it?” While I was looking at him, I murmured.
He gazed at me in a kind manner. “I did not want you to be swayed by my financial offer. As a result, I led a simple life. Because I am passionate about my job, I am a librarian. I am the owner of that library, however. And a number of additional individuals. In addition to financial assets, real estate… Even though it is the ancient money of my family, we do not dress it up like a costume.
He refocused his attention on my mother.
“Your daughter never once shown any concern for what I have. That’s the reason I’m going to marry her.
I watched as my mother stood there motionless, her jaw moving back and forth like a fish.
Noah remarked in a low voice, “I was going to tell Emma after the honeymoon,” he said to me.
I stood there, speechless, staring at him. Why are you so upset because I didn’t know?
It is not. Why are you so upset because I didn’t inform you?
“Just a trace. On the other hand… I understand.”
Would you still be interested in marrying me?
No hesitation on my part. ‘More than ever before’
I kissed him right there at the altar, and the other people in the room cheered enthusiastically.
Silently, my mother made her escape.
Everything else about the wedding was enchanted. Graceful and charming were Noah’s parents, who had flown in covertly when they arrived. They had been in the process of going overseas to do charitable work and wanted to remain out of the public eye. They welcomed me with open arms like myself.
Later, when I was dancing beneath the twinkling lights, I received a text message from my father:
It is going to be some time before your mother communicates with you. But between the two of us? I have never felt more proud of myself. Noah is the type of guy I have always wished you would find; he is the kind of person who puts you above all other considerations. In the absence of money.
I demonstrated it to Noah. And he grinned.
“Your father is a very wise man.”
“In contrast to my mother,” I said.
He drew me in towards him. It is not the fact that they are wealthy or impoverished that makes a villain in any of the great literature. It is because they are pursuing the wrong things that they are bad.
The question is, “Is that Fitzgerald?”
“Not at all. That one belongs to me.”
As we swayed beneath the stars, surrounded by tales, I came to the realization that the true fairy tale was not in the unexpected wealth or the drama at the altar; rather, it was in discovering someone who loved me not for who I claimed to be, but for precisely who I was.
That, more than anything else, given me the impression that I was the wealthiest lady in the whole world.
