‘We object!’
Margarita found love again ten years after the death of her first husband. But it seems her problems were far from over. When the officiant at her wedding asked if anyone had any objections, her four children stood up and said they did. Margarita’s heart sank as she wondered what had gone wrong and why her once supportive children were now objecting. What had happened?
The afternoon sun shone through the windows as I sat in my favourite armchair. ‘Oh, Ivan, I miss you every day,’ I murmured, my fingers sliding over the edges of an old photograph. The photo album lay on my lap, filled with memories of a life gone by.
I looked at Ivan’s photo, his smile so vivid, as if he were still here with me. Oh, my God! We met in college, young and full of dreams. Our first date was at a small café near campus, where we talked for hours about everything and nothing. He knew how to make me feel special, as if I were the only person in the world who mattered.
As I flipped through the pages, each photo brought back a flood of memories. Here was our wedding day, a beautiful sunny day in June. I can still hear the laughter of our friends and family, see the joy in Ivan’s eyes as we exchanged our vows. We were so happy, so full of hope for the future.
We had our share of adventures, travelling to places we had always dreamed of visiting. There was a trip to Italy, where we got lost in the winding streets of Rome and ended up eating the best pizza of our lives. Or the time we went hiking in the mountains and Ivan insisted on building a campfire despite the pouring rain. We laughed so much that night, huddled together under our makeshift tent, feeling like nothing bad could ever happen.
But then life happened. When I was 42, Ivan fell ill, and despite our hopes and prayers, he passed away. The day I lost him was the hardest day of my life. The house felt empty, and my heart ached with a loneliness I couldn’t escape.
For years, I believed that such love only happens once in a lifetime. I lived on autopilot, pursuing hobbies and spending time with friends, but something was always missing.
That’s when Mikhail came into my life. Two years ago. Mikhail was very different from Ivan, but he brought light back into my life. We met at a dinner party at a friend’s house, and I was drawn to his kindness and sense of humour. Gradually, he became an important part of my life. I felt the warmth of love again, which I thought was gone forever. So when he proposed to me six months ago, I immediately said ‘yes’.
I closed the photo album, pressing it to my chest. ‘Ivan, you will always be my first love,’ I whispered, feeling a tear roll down my cheek. ‘But I think you would be happy for me. I have found someone who makes me smile again.’
I looked around the cosy living room, a place that held so many memories. Today, my house was buzzing with excitement as we prepared for my wedding to Mikhail. My children were all here, making everything perfect.
‘Mum, can you help me with this banner?’ Yakov called from the living room. He was adjusting the decorations, making sure every detail was in place. Yakov always had an eye for these things. ‘Of course, dear,’ I said, coming over to help him.
As I helped him, I looked around the room and felt a wave of happiness wash over me. Igor was coordinating the catering by phone. ‘Make sure they know about the vegetarian dishes,’ I reminded him. He nodded, giving me a thumbs up. Oleg was arranging flowers in the corner with such care. ‘These lilies look beautiful, Oleg,’ I said. ‘Thank you, Mum. I just want everything to be perfect for you and Mikhail,’ he replied, his eyes shining with love and excitement. Veniamin, my youngest, walked around the room, making sure everything was going smoothly. ‘Mum, I checked the sound system. Everything is ready for the music and speeches,’ he said, giving me a quick hug. ‘Thank you, Venya. You’re all doing such a great job,’ I said, feeling a lump in my throat. My children were a true blessing.
Mikhail was in the living room, rereading his vows. He looked up and smiled when I approached. ‘How are you holding up?’ he asked, taking my hand. ‘I’m fine, thanks to all of you,’ I said, squeezing his hand. ‘I am so lucky to have such wonderful children and to have you in my life.’ ‘We’re all here for you, Mum,’ said Jacob, joining us. ‘We want your day to be perfect.’ ‘And it will be, thanks to all your hard work,’ I said, my heart overflowing with pride and love.
Throughout the day, the house was filled with laughter and chatter. It was chaos, but in the best possible way. That evening, we gathered in the backyard for a small rehearsal dinner. The space was decorated with twinkling lights and flowers. Everything felt exciting.
‘Mum, do you like everything?’ Yakov asked, sitting down next to me. ‘Yes, dear,’ I replied with a smile. Mikhail came over and hugged me. ‘Are you ready for tomorrow, my love?’ he asked with a smile. ‘I think so,’ I replied, snuggling up to him. ‘It’s hard to believe it’s almost happening.’