It was bewildering to think about how quickly the weeks had passed since the engagement. It had only seemed like yesterday since I slipped the ring on his finger, and here we were just a day away from the wedding!

I really enjoyed having Ben in the house all the time. He was so wonderful to me, bringing me breakfast in bed on the weekends, and bringing home small bouquets of wildflowers after work. I loved him even more each day, and couldn't wait to be his wife. The future was looking brighter than ever.

Then came the time to call my parents.

I had been dreading it all week, putting it off for as long as I possibly could. Ben assured me things would be great on our big day, but he didn't know my parents. But despite all I'd been through, I still wanted them there. So, I just had to call; and time was running out.



I picked up the phone and dialed my parent's number, and waited for someone to answer.

"Hello, Cutler residence," my mother sang, just as she always had. She sounded so much nicer than she actually was.

"Hi Mom," I replied.



"Ohh, Aimee," she said, trying to sound surprised. I'm sure she thought I was calling to ask for money. Boy would she be surprised. "How are you, dear?"

"I'm good, Mom," I assured her. "Really good, actually."

"Oh?" she asked. I could see her raising her eyebrows. Daddy would be seated behind her on the couch. "How so?"



"Well, it's great news!" I cried, struggling to contain my excitement. "You're not going to believe it." A silence ensued from the other end of the line.

"Aimee?" she asked finally, clearly uncomfortable. The knots in my stomach tightened.



"I'm getting married tomorrow!" I squealed, watching Ben cross the living room to the bathroom. He smiled at me before he closed the door behind him. "I'm so excited; I can't believe this is happening to me."

"You're wh... what?" she stammered. "What... when -we didn't know you were seeing anyone."

"I met someone so wonderful about a month ago and I love him so-"

"What did you say?" she cried.

Oh boy, here it comes.



"Did you say a month?" she barked when I didn't answer. I gulped and opened my mouth to speak.

"What the hell are you thinking, Aimee?" she roared, cutting me off. "You run off after school to supposedly make something of yourself, and you marry the first loser to come along?" My face twisted in anger.

"Ben is not a loser, Mom."



"Wait, she said suddenly, her voice dropping. "I know what this is." I crossed the room and leaned against the back of the couch.

"Oh, do you now?" I asked, sarcasm stinging my words. "Then please by all means, share your great wisdom with me."

"Don't be a smart ass," she growled. "That's your problem you know, your mouth is full of garbage and smut." I rolled my eyes.

"Since you're so smart, tell me what you think this is all about."

"You let that trash impregnate you, didn't you?" she sneered. "You're about to have it, and you need money to support your love child."

"Ugh, what is wrong with you?!" I screamed. I wanted to wrap my hands around her scrawny neck and shake the crap out of her. " I'm not pregnant! And we're getting married because we're in love!" My mother laughed.

"You're in love?" she asked. "Please, Aimee. You've known him a month, and you're giving the rest of your life to this guy?"

"You know what? I don't need this crap," I groaned. "I was calling to tell you so you'd actually act like real parents, and support me for once in my damn life. But I see that's not going to happen, so see ya!" I slammed the phone down and growled.

Julia rolled her eyes and sighed sharply, hanging up the phone. She walked slowly to the couch and sat down beside her old husband.

"Everything alright?" he asked, staring ahead at the soccer game. "Sounds like the conversation got pretty heated."

"Aimee has lost her mind, to put it simply." Duncan turned his eyes to this wife.

"What do you mean?"



"She's getting married tomorrow," she replied, shaking her head in disbelief. "She's known him a month. Can you believe that?" Duncan sighed.

"And she's marrying him?" he asked. "She's having a baby, isn't she?" Julia snickered.

"She says no."



"Then what on earth is she thinking?" he whined. "She's just going to get herself into trouble. A month is much too short to get to know a man." Julia nodded in agreement.


"We'll just have to pray she comes to her senses."

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