– Sarah, could you please pay for your sister’s wedding? You have the money after all, – her mother exclaimed in frustration.
– You need to come over! We need to talk! – Sarah’s mother, Anne Smith, caught her eldest daughter off guard with an unexpected phone call.
– I can’t; I’m at work, – Sarah whispered into the phone, fearing her strict boss might overhear her.
– Can’t you take a moment off? – Anne Smith protested.
– It’s not possible, – Sarah replied, glancing around nervously.
– This can’t wait! – Anne Smith insisted her daughter leave work immediately.
Realizing her mother wouldn’t relent, Sarah assured her she would come as soon as possible before hastily hanging up, anxious about her stern manager catching her.
Sarah immediately knew this couldn’t be anything urgent. Her mother had just another one of those crazy ideas she needed to share with someone.
– She could have called Emma; she’s not working anyway, – Sarah grumbled quietly and returned to her tasks.
After not hearing from Sarah for an hour, Anne Smith called repeatedly, forcing Sarah to switch off her phone.
When she turned it back on after work, she discovered her mother had called another twenty times. Clearly, this conversation was important to her mother.
– Alex, could you pick up our daughter from nursery? Mom urgently called me in, and I probably won’t make it in time, – Sarah called her husband on the way.
– Anne Smith came up with something again? – Alex grumbled, but agreed to pick up their daughter.
On her way, Sarah stopped by a shop to buy her mother’s favorite pastries.
– You took forever! I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come! – Anne exclaimed as soon as Sarah entered but softened when she saw the box of treats her daughter brought. – I’ve got news! Emma and Luke finally decided to get married!
– Well, good for them, – Sarah replied drily, realizing this was what all the fuss was about.
– You don’t seem too thrilled for your sister, – Anne scowled at her daughter.
– Mom, they’re the ones who should be excited. This doesn’t concern me, – Sarah shrugged. – Actually, Emma should be happy, and Luke… well, he might want to cry.
– Why do you say that? – Anne was startled, almost dropping the pastry box.
– Because he’ll have to support his unemployed wife, – Sarah smirked.
– She’ll find a job. Stop nagging her about it, – her mother defended the younger daughter.
– She’s been looking for two years. Aren’t you tired of supporting a thirty-year-old daughter? – Sarah inquired sarcastically.
– I don’t really support her. Just help a bit now and then, – Anne Smith averted her eyes, which betrayed her. – Will you have some tea?
– Sure, – Sarah yawned. – Is this the only reason you called me over? A phone call would have sufficed.
– No, there’s more! – Anne Smith declared firmly and began pouring tea into cups.
An awkward silence filled the room as if Anne was gathering the courage to tell Sarah something important.
– Emma and Luke want just a registry office wedding, – Anne Smith said after a moment of silence.
– And what’s the issue? – Sarah took a heated cup in her hands.
– Marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime event…
– Depends on the person, – Sarah interrupted her mother.
– I want them to have a wedding! – Anne declared grandly.
– I imagine they don’t have the means, – Sarah mused, still unsure why her presence was required.
– That’s exactly why I wanted to talk to you! – Anne Smith beamed.
– To me? What do I have to do with it? – Sarah asked, perplexed.
– Let’s give your sister a wedding!
– What? – Sarah choked, nearly spilling her tea.
– We’ll pitch in and throw a wedding! I figured it would cost around twenty thousand pounds. I have five, but you could front another five for me, and I’ll pay you back when I can, – Anne said eagerly.
– We’ll foot the bill for two grown adults’ wedding? You’ve got to be joking! – Sarah sprang from her chair, outraged. – Emma’s been unemployed, living off you, and we’re supposed to fund her wedding? Ridiculous! Let her earn it herself!
– They don’t want to!
– Especially when no one even asked you for help, – Sarah exclaimed.
– I want this wedding! I want my daughter in a white dress, with balloons and flowers! – Anne stomped her foot in anger.
– You had a wedding. Why shouldn’t she?
– Let me remind you, Mom, that my wedding was paid for by my husband and me! – Sarah was getting irritated by her mother’s stubbornness.
– You had yours, now help your sister! – Anne’s face reddened with anger. – I thought better of you.
– So, I should give my last penny so you and Emma can enjoy? – Sarah was indignant.
– I can’t believe you wouldn’t find the money for a wedding. You’re just jealous of your sister, – Anne held her ground, unwilling to heed her older daughter.
Throwing her hands up in frustration, Sarah decided it was pointless to argue and made a hasty exit.
After this rift, Anne refused to reconcile with her eldest daughter.
A week later, Sarah thought to call her mother, but Anne refused to speak to her.
Fate, however, brought the family together on the street a couple of days later. Anne tried to walk by with her head held high, but Sarah didn’t let her slip away.
– Mom, can we stop this? – Sarah grabbed her mother by the elbow.
– I’m not upset, but I had to take out a loan for Emma’s wedding because of you. Now I’ll be stuck paying interest, – Anne replied, clearly regretting her decision.
– Because of me? – Sarah retorted calmly. – I didn’t need that wedding.
– That’s why we decided not to invite you! – Anne declared bluntly. – If you won’t help, you don’t need to be at the family celebration.
In astonishment, Sarah watched her mother walk away with satisfaction.
– Serves you right. Let your stinginess be a lesson, – Anne said disapprovingly before leaving, leaving Sarah bewildered.
On the eve of the wedding, Emma called her older sister, reluctantly inviting her, but Sarah declined, citing her busy schedule.
