I had waited months to meet my daughter Kira’s fiancé, imagining the perfect moment. But when the door opened, my excitement vanished. This wasn’t what I expected. I knew then—I had to stop the wedding.
I’d been rushing around the kitchen all day. Kira was finally bringing her fiancé, Marcus, and his parents over for dinner. I had dreamed of this moment, but Kira had always put it off. Now, with the engagement official, she had no choice.
When they arrived, I forced a smile. But when I saw Marcus and his parents, I froze. They were Black. My mind raced. Bradley, my husband, stiffened beside me. I led them in, trembling. In the kitchen, I confronted Kira. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I knew how you’d react,” she said.
Bradley snapped, “My daughter isn’t marrying a Black man.”
Kira stood firm. “That’s not your decision.”
Dinner was strained. Later, Marcus’s mother Betty leaned over and whispered, “I don’t think they’re a good match either.”
Relieved, I agreed. From then on, Betty and I quietly worked against the wedding—picking fights, pushing our own preferences, even setting up “accidental” meetings with others we deemed more suitable. But it only brought Kira and Marcus closer.
One night, they confronted us. Furious. “You’re trying to break us up?” Kira shouted. “I love him. And I’m marrying him—with or without you.”
She looked at her father and said, “Even he’s accepted it. Why can’t you?”
“If you can’t accept it,” Marcus added, “don’t come to the wedding.”
The silence after they left was crushing. That week, Kira ignored all my messages. On the night of the rehearsal dinner, I found Bradley getting ready.
“You can’t go,” I said.
“I’m not missing my daughter’s wedding,” he replied and walked out.
I went too—but stayed outside, watching through the window. Then Betty appeared beside me.
“I want to be allowed to see my future grandson,” she said.
“Granddaughter,” I replied.
We laughed—arguing over future grandchildren.
As we looked at our children, glowing with love, Betty sighed. “As long as they’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
I nodded. She was right.