My shy mom’s mother-in-law called her “ugly” at my wedding, and I couldn’t stand it. My plan to get back at them seemed great at first, but when things started going wrong, I realized I might have done something I couldn’t take back.
I stood in front of the mirror and adjusted my veil one hundred times. My hands were shaking. Maybe I was nervous or excited. Mom came up behind me with teary eyes.
She said in a soft voice, “You look beautiful, Sophia.”
I turned around to look at her and liked her simple dark dress. “Thanks, Mom.” Also, you look beautiful.
She moved around with her dress’s hem. “Are you sure it’s not too simple?”
I told her, “It’s perfect.” “You’re great.”
Even though Mom smiled, I could tell she wasn’t sure what to do. She was always quiet and shy, and she liked to fit in. I wanted her to shine today, though.
I put my arm around hers and said, “Come on.” “Let’s go kill them.”
The event was hard to follow. When I walked down the aisle, Michael looked at me and our eyes met. I didn’t know when we would say “I do.” As we turned to face our guests, I saw Vivian, my new mother-in-law, wearing a very fancy gold dress.
I felt like I was on cloud nine at the wedding. As we went around, Michael and I said hello to people and accepted their compliments. I saw Mom standing by the punch bowl by herself and she looked awkward.
I moved over. “Having fun?”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes as she nodded. “Of course, honey.” “Your dress is beautiful.”
“Thanks, Mom.” “I—”
A voice said, “Well, well.” Vivian walked in with a champagne glass in her hand. “Oh my goodness, Evelyn, that is a very… interesting outfit choice.”
Mom’s face turned red. “Thank you very much.” Hi Vivian, your dress is also very pretty.
She made a smirk with her lips. “Yes, well, some of us like to go the extra mile for important events.”
When I opened my mouth to fight back, Mom grabbed my arm. “Sophia, why don’t you go dance with Michael?” “Today is your big day.”
I felt bad leaving them, but I kept an eye on Mom all night. She moved to the corners of the room and seemed to get smaller.
***
The next morning, my phone rang while Michael and I were eating breakfast. Jen, my cousin, called.
“Hey, did the newlywed do okay?” She asked.
“Great!” Even though I’m tired.
“Yes.” I need to tell you something…
When Jen told me what she had heard at the wedding, my blood started to boil. Someone named Vivian said my mom was ugly. To other guests?
Jen told Sophia, “I’m so sorry.” “I didn’t mean to make your night bad…”
“No, I’m glad you told me.” “Thank you, Jen.”
When I hung up the phone, I turned to Michael with angry hands. “At our wedding, your mom called my mom ugly.”
His face got sad. “What?” Are you sure?”
Jen heard what she said. “Wow, I can’t believe this!”
Michael combed his hair with his hand. “All right, I’ll talk to her. “She really shouldn’t have said that.”
But I had already thought of a plan. “No, I’m okay with this.”
I got my laptop and looked up the wedding photographer’s information. Moving quickly across the keyboard, I typed a message:
“Hi, Rob. I want something special for our wedding pictures. Could you point out any pictures of my mother-in-law that don’t look good? I also want to know if you could do some… clever editing to the pictures to make her look worse.
Before I could think again, I hit “send.”
“Uh, sure,” was the photographer’s quick answer. That’s something I can do. But are you sure?”
“Certainly,” I answered.
Michael looked at me from behind. Hi Sophia, what are you up to?
I hit the laptop hard to close it. “Nothing.” “I’m just curious about the pictures.”
He frowned and made it clear he didn’t believe it, but he let it go.
The next few days, I couldn’t wait for the pictures. I couldn’t believe it when they finally showed up in a shared folder. VIVIEN was yelling at a poor kid with her mouth open. She had “spinach” in her teeth in another picture.
And her lines looked worse in every picture, and her makeup looked a little smeared.
I had a little bit of guilt, but I pushed it away. This was her due.
The phone rang, which woke me up. It was Vivian.
She screamed, “Sophia!” “What did you do to my pictures?”
I faked being innocent. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t act stupid around me!” I look awful in all of them!”
“That’s strange,” she said. I’m sure it was a mistake—”
“Enjoy! Right now.”
Before I could answer, she hung up. As Michael walked in, worry was written all over his face.
“Was that my mom?”
I said yes. “The pictures don’t make her happy.”
He sighed. “What did you do, Sophia?”
I told him everything: what I wanted the shooter to do and how it would be changed. With each word, his face showed more problem.
He finally said, “I can’t believe you did that.” “I know my mom said something bad, but this… this is also wrong.”
I felt guilty all the time. It was my duty to defend my mom.
“I get it, but there were better ways to deal with it.” Let’s talk to your mom.
After an hour, we were in Mom’s living room. As we told her what had happened, her eyes got bigger.
She said in a soft voice, “Oh, Sophia.” “You did not need to do that.”
“Mom, she hurt you!” I could not let her off the hook.
Mom turned her head. “Honey, what she says will only hurt me if I let it.” And getting back at her only gave her more power.
Michael blew his nose. “Evelyn, I’m so sorry about what my mom said.” Everything about it was wrong.
“Thank you, Michael.” But you don’t need to say sorry.
There was quiet for a moment before Mom spoke again. Sophia, I’m glad you want to stand up for me. That’s not the way to do it. That’s not good enough for us.
Tears came to my eyes. “Sorry, Mom. Just… It breaks my heart to see people hurt you. I love you so much.
She gave me a hug. “I know, honey.” I love you too. But sometimes the best way to get back at someone is to live a good life and be happy.
As we left Mom’s house, I felt guilty and happy at the same time. Michael put his hand on mine.
He asked, “So what now?”
I took a big breath. “I guess I need to fix this now.” Even though your mom doesn’t deserve it.
He said yes. “Let’s do it together.”
We had Vivian over the next day. She walked into our flat quickly, her face looking like a storm cloud.
“Well?” she asked. “Are you going to fix those awful pictures?”
I took a big breath. “Vivian, I’m sorry I hurt you. I told the photographer to change those pictures so you look bad.
She first opened her eyes in shock, then shrunk them in anger. “You jerk!”
I spoke up and said, “I’m not done.” “I did it because at the wedding I heard what you said about my mom.” Saying she’s ugly? What you did was mean and not appropriate.
Her mouth moved back and forth like a fish’s. Michael took over.
“Mom, what you said hurt me.” We treat Evelyn with respect now that she is part of our family.
I thought Vivian might blow up for a second. Then, though, something changed in her face.
“I…” “I guess I might have been wrong,” she said reluctantly.
I said, “We were all.” “Maybe we can start over?” I’ll fix the pictures, and you could say sorry to my mom.
Then Vivian paused and nodded. “Well, I guess that’s… fair.”
Even though it wasn’t great, it was a start. Michael gave me a hug as Vivian left.
He said in a low voice, “I’m proud of you.”
I smiled at him in the chest. “Thank you.” I hope this is the start of something better.
***
We had dinner together the following week: Michael, Mom, Vivian, and I. It was weird at first, but as the night went on, things started to feel better.
I watched as Mom and Vivian slowly found things they had in common and talked about their kids. For now, it wasn’t friendship, but it was close.
Vivian pulled me aside as we said goodbye.
She spoke softly and said, “Sophia.” “I…” I’m sorry. Since I said and did those things. “I hope we can get past this because you’re good for my son.”
When I nodded, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. “That sounds good to me.”
Michael smiled at me as we drove home. “That wasn’t too bad, was it?”
I laughed. “No, I don’t think so.” “Okay, let’s not do that again,”
He put his hand on mine. “Good deal.”
I leaned back in my seat and thought about the trip we had taken. From the perfect wedding day to trouble in the family and back again. It wasn’t easy, but maybe that’s what family was all about: loving people with all their flaws and making their lives messy, confusing, and beautiful.
What would you have done?
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