«Don’t You Dare Touch Her!»
Mum called, her voice trembling like a childs. «Emily, can you come over?»
Emilys heart plummeted. She recognised that tonethe same one Mum had when Grandad passed. Back then, theyd scrambled for black clothesonly William, her older brother, had any, stuck in his teenage goth phase. Theyd taken a stuffy train to his grim flat, where strangers milled about. Grandad had been a painter, surrounded by admirers, but when it came to burying him, only his daughterMumhad stepped up. That same hollow voice was back now.
«Whats wrong?» Emily asked, nerves twisting her stomach. She dreaded telling James if the wedding had to be postponed again. Last time, shed gone skiing with friends and broken her leg. James had shouted himself hoarsehis parents had booked flights, taken leave, and there she was, reckless as ever. Hed warned her: dont go if you cant ski properly!
This time, though, it wasnt her fault. Yet guilt gnawed at her anyway.
«Grans ill. Just got back from hospitaltests arent good.»
Emily knew Gran had been for tests. If Mum had led with that, shed have been upset. But now relief flickered. No one had died. The wedding could go ahead. In fact, they ought to hurrybefore Gran
Her throat closed. The thought was unbearable. Gran had always been there. Mum said when Grandad left them penniless, Gran worked triple shifts without complaint, just to give Mum everything. Later, when Mum turned seventeen, the «great artist» deigned to help, but Gran had carried them alone. Even now, she slipped money to Mum, William, and Emilyhow she managed on her pension, no one knew.
«Ill come now.»
Gran put on a brave face, even cracking jokes.
«Dont fret, love. Theyll do chemomight help. Shame about my hair, though. Had this plait all my lifecant imagine without it.»
Grans hair was magnificentlong, thick, though silver now.
«Lets dye it for the wedding,» Emily offered. «Youll be the prettiest there!»
Gran brightened but fumbled for her purse.
«Oh, Gran, noIll buy it!»
«Nonsense! Weddings costing enough. Take it.» She rummaged in her chest of drawers, rustling bags, and finally pulled out a small pink one.
«Took me three months. Eyes arent what they were.» Her voice wavered, waiting for approval.
Inside lay a delicate ivory shawlold-fashioned but achingly sweet. Emily decided then: shed wear it at the wedding.
«Its perfect, Gran!»
«Your mum said you wouldnt,» Gran muttered. «She was always fussymade her a yellow dress once, puffed sleeves, and she spilled ink on it just to avoid wearing it»
Emily lied smoothly. «She told me it was an accident.»
They chatted over tea, dyed Grans hair, and evening fell. Emily had left her phone in the hall, missing calls. Whod ring today, anyway? The doorbell chimed, and she hurried to answer, spotting a flood of notifications.
William and his best mate, Christopher, stood there, holding a box. Inside, a ginger kitten blinked up with curious eyes.
«Margaret Thompson, look what we brought!» Christopher crowed.
Gran gaspedthen burst into tears.
Three years ago, her beloved cat, Marmalade, had died. A bold, amber-eyed companion for twelve years, his loss had shattered her. Shed refused another pet since.
«Chris, love, Im dying! Whatll happen to him after?»
«Dont be daft,» William cut in. «No ones tossing him out. And secondyoull have to stick around now.»
«Whatll I feed him? Havent even got milk!»
«Ill go!» Emily said.
«Ill join you,» Christopher added. «Fancy a bite tooget something for tea»
Truthfully, Emily didnt want to be alone with Christopher. There was something in his gaze that unnerved her. When shed handed him a wedding invite, hed taken it stone-faced and said,
«Pity. Id hoped I still had a chance.»
But arguing in front of Gran seemed wrong, and dragging William along felt silly. So they went, just the two of them.
Her worries were needlessChristopher stayed quiet. Only murmured how sorry he was about Gran, hoping shed recover. When Emily asked if James would come to the wedding, he just said,
«Course.»
No more, though she sensed words unsaid.
They bought a cake and pasties, which Gran sniffed at»I fry better.» William praised her hair; Christopher asked Emily to try the shawl, staring like he was spellbound. A lovely evening, though Mum was missedshe was on shift, no cover available.
Emily checked her phone to call Mumand saw Jamess messages. Shed forgotten: dinner with his parents tonight. He was livid shed vanished.
«I told you I was at Grans! Shes been diagnosed, and»
«Shes had her time,» James snapped. «Dont ruin ours. Mums devastated.»
She rushed home to placate him. William drove her; Christopher stayed with Gran.
Home was a battlefield. James called her careless, selfish, unable to prioritise. When he saw the shawl, he sneered, «Tacky. Youre not wearing that.»
Hope hed calm down fadedthey bickered like cats and dogs till the wedding. Then Gran was hospitalised. Emily whispered about cancellingno mood to celebratebut James hissed about lost deposits, paid vendors, arrived guests. «Let her restshed hate it anyway.»
Emily knew he loathed the shawl. Gran wouldnt be there. But photos lasted forever. Gran had spent months knitting itfor her. Shed wear it, no matter what.
«Love, why that old thing?» Mum fretted. «Such a gorgeous dresswhy spoil it? I know Gran» She burst into tears. Makeup repairs, then James arrivedMum flurried about last-minute preparations. The «ransom» games (dolls on cars, nonsense Emily hated but Jamess parents insisted on) began. Waiting, jittery, Emily rang Gran.
«Could you visit me?» Gran asked weakly. «Id love to see you.»
«Of course!» Emily said, though James might object. «Whos with the kitten?»
«Chris took him. Sweet boy»
Christopher was driving them todayWilliam vowed to get «properly sloshed» at his sisters wedding. Gran was righthe *was* sweet. Why hadnt Emily seen it before? Too late now
When James saw the shawl, he snarled, «Take it off! I told youhideous!»
Guests, bridesmaids, photographers watched the scene. Emilys cheeks burned.
«Stop. Its my wedding too.»
«I want a wife who listens!»
«Im not your wife yet!»
Mothers tried mediating, but Emily realisedshe didnt want this. His nitpicking, her bending until she snapped
«I want to see Gran,» she said.
«Youre mad,» James hissed.
She tried pushing past, but he grabbed her wrist, pain flaring.
«Dont you dare touch her!»
Christophers voice. He glared at James, fury in his eyes.
«Piss off,» James spat. «My wifemy business!»
Then William punched him square in the nose, took Emilys hand, and said, «Grans?»
Chaos eruptedMum pleading, Jamess mother screeching curses. But Emily didnt care. She followed William, mind fixed on Gran. She caught Christophers eye, silently beckoning. He followed, chasing them down the balloon-strewn steps
**Lesson:** Love shouldnt demand silence. The right people will never ask you to shrink yourself.
