The Big Day Arrives
Marla Ridge was thrilled to reconnect with her aunt after years apart, inviting her to the wedding as a peace offering.
She waited eagerly in her dressing room, excited to see her aunt Mei walk in. But when the older woman arrived, Marla felt a surge of anger—she wasn’t alone.
A Special Occasion
This day was extra meaningful for Marla, not just because she was marrying her best friend of four years.
She’d invited Aunt Mei, whom she hadn’t seen in eight years, hoping to rekindle their bond. After much hesitation, she’d decided it was the right thing to do.
Getting Ready
The morning was perfect, with Marla and her bridesmaids sipping champagne while she got dressed.
Her friends kept her company, making sure everything went smoothly. Little did they know the day would take an unexpected turn.
Watching the Clock
Despite enjoying her time with the bridesmaids, Marla kept glancing at the clock. Aunt Mei was flying in from Australia, and Marla couldn’t wait to reconnect.
She envisioned catching up over champagne, eager to tell her aunt how much she still meant to her.
Remembering the Rift
Marla thought back to why they’d lost touch—Aunt Mei’s relationship with Gerald. He was controlling and drove a wedge between Mei and her loved ones.
Though Mei had chosen him back then, Marla had heard they’d since broken up, renewing her hope for a fresh start with her aunt.
A Familiar Voice
That afternoon, Marla finally heard her aunt’s voice down the hallway. “Where’s that gorgeous girl?”
Mei’s words brought tears to Marla’s eyes. She hurried to the door, overjoyed that Mei had arrived at last.
An Unwanted Surprise
Marla opened the door, her heart full as she saw Mei standing there. But her joy quickly faded when she noticed the person beside her aunt.
The sight made her heart sink. How could Aunt Mei bring *him*?
Complicated Family Ties
Growing up in Austin, Texas, Marla came from a loving, supportive family—at least from her parents.
Her extended family, especially on her mom’s side, was filled with unresolved tensions, particularly between her mother and Aunt Mei.
Memories with Aunt Mei
As a child, Marla cherished her weekends with Aunt Mei. Those visits were filled with laughter and fun, as her mother made an effort to keep close to her sister.
But the last time Marla saw Mei, at age sixteen, she finally began to understand the underlying issues.
An Easter to Remember
One Easter weekend, Marla and her parents visited Aunt Mei. Mei’s boyfriend, Gerald, joined, which created an uncomfortable atmosphere.
Marla had never liked him, though she wasn’t sure why. The tension that weekend was thick, and overhearing a conversation between her mom and Aunt Mei shed some light on the family’s strained relationship.
Their Conversation
“What do you see in that guy?” she heard her mother’s angry voice through her aunt’s bedroom door. Curious, she moved closer to the door, desperately trying to hear what her mother had to say about the strange man.
“Do you not see that he is trying to get in between all of us? He’s pushing your family away, Mei!” she could hear the pain in her mother’s voice.
Trying To Help Her
But Aunt Mei seemed to remain silent while her mother poured her heart out, desperate to make her see the man’s manipulative ways. “He wants to isolate you so he can have you all to himself. You have already lost Mom and Dad, and now, you’re losing me,” she could tell her mother was crying.
That was the first time she learned the truth about her aunt and the man she had spent so many years with.
The Truth
That night, she discovered that Gerald had spent years coming up with all kinds of lies and stories in an attempt to separate Aunt Mei from her family. But at sixteen, Marla couldn’t understand why her aunt would want to stay with a man like that.
But she was there when her mother made an important ultimatum. “I need you to choose right now, Mei. It’s me, or it’s Gerald. If you chose him, I will walk out of your life, just like Mom and Dad did.”
Get Packing
Marla squeezed herself closer to the door, desperate to hear what her aunt would say in response. But she never expected what her answer would be. “Well, Gloria, then I guess you better get packing because I am staying with him until the day I die,” Mei said.
Marla stood stunned on the other side of the door. How could she say that? She could only imagine how much it must’ve hurt her mother.
Devastation
That night, she watched as her mother packed their bags with tears running down her cheeks. She was heartbroken by her sister’s decision. “I can’t do this anymore. She won’t accept my help, and I am done,” Her mother told her father.
Marla cried at the sight of seeing her mother so upset. That night, Marla made herself a promise. If her mother was cutting Aunt Mei out of her life, then she would do the same.
Moving On
They drove back home that night, and Marla never saw her aunt again. In fact, her parents never even spoke of her again. As Marla grew into a young woman, she forgot all about the woman who once meant so much to her.
She and her family moved on, but when she was just twenty-two years old, she met the man she was destined to be with.
The Perfect Man
His name was Nathan, and he fit right into her family. He was a successful businessman in their small town, and everyone seemed to love him. Nathan waited patiently until Marla completed college before he finally popped the question.
Marla was 24 years old at the time. The pair were madly in love, and Marla wanted to get married right away. She was beyond excited to spend the rest of her life with him.
Making Plans
“I want to get married as soon as possible. What do you think about December? We could have a beautiful winter wedding,” she suggested to her fiance. But he was caught off guard. “December? That’s three months away.
How are we going to arrange a massive wedding in three months?” Nathan asked. But Marla wasn’t worried. She knew what she wanted. “I want a small, intimate wedding,” She explained, which made him smile.
The Perfect Day
That night, they spent hours talking about wedding venues and DJs. Marla couldn’t stop smiling, excited for what the future had in store for her. Marla had always dreamed of her wedding.
She wanted something intimate with her family and close friends. She wanted it to be an easy-going day filled with love and laughter. But little did she know what her wedding day would have in store for her.
Extended Family
They spoke for a while longer, but suddenly, Nathan asked a question that she hadn’t thought about. “Will you invite extended family?”
As soon as those words left his mouth, Marla was reminded of the woman she hadn’t thought of in eight years. As soon as Nathan mentioned extended family, Marla thought of Aunt Mei. She wondered if her aunt even knew she was engaged.
She Felt Bad
It had been eight years since anyone in their family had spoken to Aunt Mei, and for a moment, she wondered if the woman was even still alive. For the first time in years, she felt sympathy for the woman who had fallen hopelessly in love with a terrible, manipulative man.
She thought about how Gerald had gotten what he wanted the day she, her mother, and her father walked out of that house.
She Lied
“I-” Marla thought for a second, “I haven’t thought about extended family yet,” she said, but she was lying. She already knew that she was going to invite all of her other aunts and uncles.
Would it be cruel to exclude Mei? That night, as Marla lay in bed, she couldn’t stop thinking about the woman she had lost her entire family all those years ago.
She Was Upset
A part of her wanted to invite Aunt Mei to the wedding, but she knew how upset the rest of her family would be, especially if she brought that man along. For weeks, she pondered about the matter, but she had no idea what to do.
But that changed when she spoke to her mother one night. “Is something bothering you, honey?” Gloria asked, noticing that her daughter was quieter than usual that night.
She Knew Her
Marla shrugged her shoulders, wondering if it was a good idea to talk to her mother about what had been bothering her. But Gloria didn’t let it go. She knew her daughter better than anyone else, and she could tell she had something on her mind.
“Come on, Sunshine. Tell me what’s going on. You know I don’t bite,” her mother joked. She finally gave in.
What’s Wrong?
“Mom,” she sighed and folded her arms across her chest as she sat beside her mother on the couch, “Something is bothering me.” Gloria paused the television and turned toward her daughter, giving her all of her attention. “What is it, honey?”
Marla took a deep breath before looking her mother in the eyes. “It’s Aunt Mei. I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately.”
Opening Up
As soon as those words left her mouth, she could tell that her mother was caught off guard. Gloria stared at her with wide eyes, waiting for her to continue. “Now that I’m older and I understand everything a little better, I just feel bad that we abandoned her all those years ago. I’m thinking of inviting her to the wedding.”
Marla expected her mother’s face to twist in anger when she gave her that bit of information, but instead, she smiled sympathetically.
A Mutual Feeling
“Yes, it is a terrible thing that happened all those years ago,” Gloria said, clearly thinking back on that time. “But your aunt was in a terrible state of mind.”
Marla remained silent. She could tell that there was more her mother wanted to say. She waited patiently. “You know, lately, I’ve been thinking of reaching out to her too. One of her friends told me that she had left that awful man, and she lives in Australia now.”
Great News
Marla couldn’t believe her ears when her mother revealed that bit of information. Excitement shot through her. “What? That is amazing news! We should invite her to the wedding,” she cheered, but her mother didn’t seem as pleased.
“Honey, it’s your decision. But give it some thought. She hurt a lot of people that will be attending your wedding. Who knows if they can forgive her,” Gloria warned.
She Was Convinced
Marla understood where her mother was coming from, but she was convinced that it could all be fixed if she invited Aunt Mei to the wedding. That night, she made her decision.
She was going to invite her aunt, and their family was finally going to talk it all out and mend their broken relationship. She was convinced that it was a wonderful idea, but she had no idea what she was getting herself into. She would regret that decision.
An Invitation
It took a bit of investigation, but the following day, Marla was able to track her aunt down on social media. Knowing that she lived in Australia and that it would be a mission to send her a formal invitation, she sent her aunt a private message inviting her to the wedding.
Aunt Mei seemed overjoyed in her response. “Oh, dear! I would love to!” she said, but then, she asked a question. “Could I bring a plus one?”
A Better Man
The second Marla read those words. She couldn’t help but smirk to herself. She wondered if her aunt had already found herself a better man. She sure hoped she had.
She always thought her aunt was a wonderful person who had just fallen victim to the wrong man. “Of course,” she responded, curious to meet the person special enough to bring to a wedding. She would regret that decision.
A Weight Off Her Shoulders
Once Aunt Mei had been invited to the wedding, Marla felt like a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She was finally about to plan the wedding with Nathan by her side.
She knew they had to work fast if they wanted to get married in three months. She immediately began looking at venues and trying on dresses, and to her surprise, everything ran smoothly.
She Couldn’t Wait
The wedding slowly but surely crept closer when Marla received a text from Aunt Mei informing her that she had booked her plane ticket.
“The plane lands a few hours before the wedding. I can’t wait to see you, dear,” she read the texts from her. Marla could barely contain her excitement the week before the wedding. But before she knew it, the day had come.
The Big Day
That morning, Marla awoke with a wide grin on her face. She couldn't believe that her special day had finally arrived. She couldn’t wait to see Nathan in his tuxedo, and she couldn’t wait for her family to reunite with Aunt Mei.
She and her bridesmaids were at the venue early that morning, where they prepared for the big day in one of the dressing rooms.
The Time Of Her Life
Although Marla was having the time of her life with her bridesmaids, she couldn’t help but glance at the clock on the wall every few hours. Aunt Mei was flying over from Australia, and she was waiting in anticipation for the older woman to arrive.
She couldn’t wait to fix their broken relationship. She dreamed of catching up over a bottle of champagne and telling her aunt just how much she had always meant to her.
The Reason
She thought about the reason why they had stopped talking in the first place. It was all because of Aunt Mei’s boyfriend, Gerald. He was manipulative and mean, and he had always tried his hardest to separate Aunt Mei from the people who loved her.
Sadly, Aunt Mei chose him in the end. But now, word was that they had broken up. Marla couldn’t wait to be close to her again.
A Familiar Voice
It wasn’t until that afternoon that she heard that familiar voice down the hall, the one she hadn’t heard in so many years. “Where is that gorgeous girl?” She could hear Aunt Mei’s voice down the hall.
Tears burned behind her eyes. She had finally made it to the wedding. A second later, there was a knock on the door, and she rushed to open it.
Her Plus One
Marla rushed to the door, excited to see her aunt’s beautiful face. She pulled the door open, tears pinching in her eyes as she revealed Mei. She couldn’t believe that after all those years, her aunt was finally there, standing right in front of her.
But then, she noticed someone beside her. The second she turned to the person standing beside her, the smile melted from her face. How could Aunt Mei do this to her?
A Familiar Face
Marla couldn’t believe her eyes when she looked to Aunt Mei’s left and saw a familiar face beside her. She knew who it was right away. She stood stunned in front of everyone as she said the words she never thought she would say on her wedding day.
“Your plus one is Gerald?” her heart sank, knowing that she had invited the two people who had hurt her family the most.
She Couldn’t Do This
But Aunt Mei didn’t seem to notice the distress behind Marla’s eyes. What was she supposed to do? She couldn’t do this to her family. “Aunt Mei, can I talk to you for a second?” Marla asked, desperate to fix the situation before it got out of hand.
“Well, you can talk to me right here, dear,” Aunt Mei said, standing beside her man proudly. How could she do this?
Back Together
“Alright,” Marla said, knowing that what she was about to do would be extremely awkward with Gerald right in front of her.
“You got back together with the man who separated you from your entire family? Why is he here? You know no one would want him here,” she said. But Aunt Mei simply raised a disapproving eyebrow. “We got back together. You said I could bring a plus one,” she said.
Beyond Upset
But that wasn’t good enough. Marla was angry that her aunt would bring the man to such a special day for their family. “You knew how upset everyone would be to see him. You know he’s the reason why everyone left,” she said.
Her heart was pounding in her chest. She could tell Aunt Mei was getting angry from the way she was looking at her. But she didn’t expect what she said next.
She Didn’t Care
“So what if they’re all upset?” Aunt Mei said and rolled her eyes. “I don’t care how any of them feel. He’s right; you are all no good for me.” Marla couldn’t believe her ears when those words left her aunt’s mouth.
How could she say something like that? “Is that what you think? I invited you here so we could all patch things up. But now I know I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
No More Pain
Marla couldn’t believe what she was about to do, but she couldn’t put her family through more pain on such a special day. “I’m sorry, Aunt Mei. I’m going to have to ask you and Gerald to leave. I don’t want you at my wedding if this is your point of view.”
But Aunt Mei laughed sarcastically and turned away. “Good, I don’t care to attend it anyway,” she said and walked off.
Happy Without Them
That day, Marla saw that Gerald and Mei were both the problem, not just Gerald himself. Her family deserved better. Luckily for Marla, her aunt left, and they were all able to have the time of their lives at the wedding.
Everyone seemed overjoyed. As Marla sat with her family, she was grateful to have them all, and she knew that Aunt Mei was missing out on the best people she knew.