The wedding was supposed to be in January, but after that we were surprised that my father had become seriously ill, and immediately after that my mother got sick too. Even Bonnie’s parents suffered from severe illness, and they had to go to the hospital. Since then, Bonnie and I put all wedding plans on hold, and we considered ourselves Mr. and Mrs. Cahill, even though in reality she was Bonnie Mayfield and I was Richard Cahill!!
When will you two get married? My mother asked after she arrived at our house for a short visit on her way to see an old friend. I knew she was joking, but I pleaded with her: Please don’t ask that question again. Every time the topic of the wedding comes up, it ends with one of us getting sick.
After that I said: By the way, how is my father these days? Then my mother said: He complains that the nurses at the hospital don’t allow him to eat his favorite candy, so I sneak in with some of that candy every time I visit him.
Mrs. Cahill, said Bonnie with a tone of worry in her voice, and continued: If anything happens at any time, don’t hesitate before turning to us and staying at our home. As you know, we have an extra room in the house, and we’d be happy to host you with it.
Oh no I can’t, it’s your house, and you need every room more than I do, since Bonnie uses the empty room for her work as a graphic designer. That was one of those moments I couldn’t talk about, so I told my mother: I never wanted to live away from you.
My mother didn’t do anything but pat my hand saying: I know dear, that’s against your will because of your work, and you don’t need to worry about me and your father, we’re both fine. My work was as an editor at the small town newspaper, but of course that didn’t last long. After that period of time, my father died, and my mother came to live with us, but she wasn’t quite herself. Something was missing from her.
The only thing that seems to keep her spirit from destruction to this day, besides her TV program, is her work on a novel. Yes, believe it or not, after twenty years as a supermarket worker, she decided to take some time for herself and write a romance novel.
Even when I suggested she go to the club near the house to make new friends in the neighborhood we live in, she refused, saying that the TV program and the novel take up most of her time and keep her always busy. So I decided to invite her to go with me once, hoping she would like the atmosphere.
But before going with my mother, I decided to go alone to find out what activities the club offered. When I went there, I was very surprised by how wonderful the place was, and it also had a large number of activities.
As I looked around, I stumbled upon a man in front of me. As soon as I looked at him, my heart stopped. The man looked very much like my father. His name was Harry Stearns. After we introduced ourselves, he told me he had recently lost his wife.
Then the idea flashed in my mind for the first time, especially after I discovered that Harry ran an office for creative writers among the elderly. I thought! But how can I make my mother meet Harry?
On Saturday morning, my mother and I went to the local supermarket to get some supplies we needed at home. I was pushing the cart slowly to allow my mother to choose the items we needed.
Suddenly I heard my mother scream, and felt her grip as she held my hand saying: Is this a ghost or am I imagining things? My mother was in a state of shock I hadn’t expected, her eyes bulged from the horror of what she saw, and she was pointing with her hand to a certain point. When I looked at where she was pointing, I saw Harry Stearns pushing a shopping cart toward us. I said: No… this is Harry Stearns. I met him at the club. He looks a lot like my father, doesn’t he? My mother only said: Oh my God!!
When Harry reached us, I introduced him to my mother saying: Harry Stearns, this is my mother Frances Cahill. Nice to meet you. Harry answered with a clear British English accent. You’re British?! my mother said in surprise. Then I thought I felt clear longing in her voice since our ancestors are from England. Henry answered: Yes, I was born and raised in London, but I’ve lived here in the United States for the past forty years.
Then I intervened in the conversation saying: By the way mom, Harry runs an office for creative writers. I looked at my mother for a second. I couldn’t say exactly what she was thinking, but I bet there was some accusation in her eyes, so I said to Harry: What are you doing here this early morning?
He laughed saying: The same thing you were doing, I’m buying weekly supplies. I said to him: Well, it was nice to meet you today Harry, and we parted agreeing to meet together soon. After we left the supermarket, I noticed my mother gazing at my face. I said, suppressing my laughter: I swear, I had no idea he would be here.
On Monday evening when I arrived home from work, I noticed my mother wasn’t sitting in the living room watching the evening news as usual. I asked Bonnie: Where’s mom? Is she upstairs in her room working on her novel? Bonnie answered: Actually, I think she went to the club.
Then I couldn’t suppress my smile because I knew why she went to the club. It wasn’t for coffee and pastries or club activities. A while after we returned from the supermarket, she made me tell her everything about Harry and his life that I knew about him. Bonnie asked: Do you think she’ll join the office Harry runs? I answered enthusiastically: I think we’ll know everything very soon.
My mother not only joined his office, but she and Harry started dating together. Within six months, they announced their plans to hold their wedding with a few friends and relatives present. But what neither Harry nor my mother knew was that it would also be a double wedding, and guess what? Despite all the planning, no one got sick!!!
Translated from the story: the wedding