When
Alexandra’s stepmother showed up at her wedding in a white dress, declaring she
deserved attention, Alexandra braced for the inevitable drama. But her husband
had a clever plan to turn the situation around in an unexpected way.
“These
flowers need to be perfect,” Linda said, meticulously arranging them. “After
all, it’s a big day for the family.”
I
sat at the dining table, sipping my tea and trying to remain calm.
My
dad smiled at her. “Linda has a great eye for these things,” he said.
I
forced a smile. “They do look nice, Linda,” I replied.
Linda,
my stepmother, came into my life when I was ten after my mom passed away. She
loved being the center of attention, and today was no different.
She
fussed over the flowers, ensuring each petal was in its place. Her dramatic
gestures made it seem like she was on stage. I wondered what stunt she would
pull at the wedding.
“Are
you excited about the wedding, Dad?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.
He
nodded, his eyes twinkling. “Very much, Alexandra. It’s going to be a beautiful
day.”
Linda
chimed in, “Yes, and everything has to be perfect. It’s not every day we have
such an important event.”
I
nodded, but my mind was elsewhere. I knew Linda would find a way to make the
day about her. She always did.
I
recalled birthdays and holidays when she managed to steal the spotlight,
leaving me in the background.
As
Linda continued to fuss over the flowers, my anxiety grew. I wanted to enjoy
the wedding, but with Linda around, it was always a challenge.
“Do
you need any help, Linda?” I offered, trying to be polite.
She
waved me off. “No, no, dear. I have everything under control.”
“Alright,”
I said, forcing a smile. “I’ll take a leave, Dad. I have to be somewhere.”
I
met up with Sarah, my best friend and maid of honor, at the wedding planner’s
office.
“Why
is the bride looking so sad?” she asked, wrapping me in a hug.
“I
guess I’m just nervous.”
“Don’t
be; you’ll have the best day! Now come on, we’re getting late.”
We
entered the wedding planner Grace’s office.
“Well,
uh, your stepmother requested to be seated in the front row and insisted on
giving a speech during the reception, Alexandra,” she said, glancing up from
her notes.
I
was stunned. Linda and I had discussed this. How could she?
“Isn’t
that usually reserved for the bride’s mother or father?” Sarah asked, raising
an eyebrow.
Grace
nodded. “Yes, traditionally, the front row is for the bride’s parents. Since your
father will be there and you have chosen to honor your late mother by keeping a
place for her, Linda technically shouldn’t be in that spot.
“Additionally,
we need to maintain some decorum and respect for family traditions. This
wedding is very meaningful, especially with the tribute to your mother.”
I
sighed, feeling the familiar frustration rise. “She always has to make
everything about herself. I bet she’s got some grand performance in mind!”
Sarah
leaned in closer. “We need to be prepared for whatever she’s planning.”
Grace
looked at me with a concerned expression. “How would you like to handle this,
Alexandra?”
I
thought for a moment. “Can we explain to her that the front row is reserved for
my mom and dad? Maybe suggest she sit in the second row?”
“That
sounds reasonable,” Grace agreed. “I’ll have a word with her. And about the
speech?”
I
shook my head. “I really don’t want her giving a speech. It’s supposed to be a
tribute to my mom and a celebration of the wedding. She’ll just make it about
herself.”
Sarah
nodded. “We can have someone else speak if needed. Maybe one of us or someone
from your mom’s side of the family?”
“That’s
a good idea,” I said, feeling a bit more at ease. “Let’s make sure the speeches
are meaningful and respectful.”
Grace
jotted down some notes. “I’ll take care of it. We’ll ensure everything runs
smoothly.”
As
we left Grace’s office, Sarah squeezed my arm.
“Don’t
worry, Alex. We’ve got this. Linda won’t ruin your day.”
I nodded,
hoping she was right.
When
I got back to our apartment, I needed to share my concerns with Tom.
“Linda
is determined to steal the show,” I said, dropping my bag by the door. “She’s
giving a speech at the reception and insisted on sitting in the front row.”
Tom
wrapped his arms around me. “We’ll handle it together. Don’t worry.”
I
frowned, leaning into his embrace.
“It’s
not just that,” I said, pulling away from him. “She has a way of turning
everything into a spectacle. She’s not my real mom, but she’s always pushed
herself into roles meant for my mother. We want to honor my mother by keeping
her place in the front row. I’m afraid she’s going to make our wedding about
her.”
Tom
smiled reassuringly. “Trust me. I’ve got a plan. Let her have her moment. It’ll
all work out.”
“What
kind of plan?” I asked, curious.
He
kissed my forehead. “Just trust me. It’s a surprise. But I promise, it’ll keep
the focus where it should be—on us and your mom’s memory.”
I
sighed, feeling a bit better but still anxious. “I hope so. I just want
everything to go smoothly. Linda can be so unpredictable.”
Tom
squeezed my hand. “I know. But we’ve got this. We’re in this together.”
I
nodded, trying to relax. “Thanks, Tom. I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime,
love,” he said, giving me a reassuring smile. “Now, let’s enjoy our evening and
not worry about Linda for a bit.”
I
smiled back, feeling grateful for his support.
Soon,
the wedding day arrived.
I
was excited and nervous.
While
I was still in my bathrobe getting ready, Sarah burst into the room, her face
pale.
“You
won’t believe this,” she said, pulling me to the window.
I
looked out and saw Linda emerging in a full-length, white wedding dress.
“What
the…” Okay, this was something I didn’t see coming. How dare she?
“Linda,
what are you doing? You can’t wear white to my wedding!” I stormed over to her,
unable to hide my fury.
“Oh,
darling,” she smirked, not showing even one ounce of regret. “You’re young,
Alexandra. You have your whole life ahead of you. This might be my last chance
to feel like a bride again. I deserve this attention.”
I
felt my anger rising, but Tom pulled me aside. “Trust me, we’ll sort this out
later,” he whispered with a mischievous smile.
“But
Tom, how could she?”
“Trust
me, okay?” he said, and I relented.
The
ceremony proceeded, with Linda sitting in the front row, basking in her stolen
spotlight. Grace had a helpless look on her face, so it was clear Linda had
managed to get what she wanted.
I
was boiling inside, but I trusted Tom.
As
the ceremony continued, I tried to focus on the vows and the moment. I looked
at Tom, who gave me a reassuring nod. But every time I saw Linda’s smug
expression, my faith in Tom’s plan wavered.
When
it was time for the speeches, I held my breath. Linda stood up, ready to take
over. But before she could speak, Tom took the microphone.
“Ladies
and gentlemen, before we continue, I’d like to share a special video tribute to
Alexandra’s late mother.”
The
lights dimmed, and a beautiful montage of my mom played on the screen.
Photos,
videos, and heartfelt messages filled the room. Tears filled my eyes, and the
guests were visibly moved. Linda’s expression shifted from smugness to shock.
As
the tribute ended, Tom looked at me with a knowing smile. “This day is about
honoring your mother and our love, Alex. No one can take that away.”
Then
he looked at Linda. “Linda, could you join us up here?” he asked.
Linda
looked smug, thinking she was about to be honored.
As
she made her way to the stage, Tom continued, “Linda has always been a star in
her own right, so today, we’ve decided to let her shine even more.”
Another
slideshow began to play. The first few pictures were innocent enough, showing
Linda in her white dress from various angles at the wedding. But then, Tom’s
twist came.
The
next photo showed Linda sneaking into my bridal suite earlier that morning.
She
was caught on camera trying on my wedding veil, twirling around with a bouquet
she’d taken from the floral arrangements.
The
room gasped, and Linda’s face turned red.
She
tried to stay calm, but Tom wasn’t done.
“Wait,
Linda, we’re not finished,” he said, motioning to the DJ.
Suddenly,
the speakers played a recording of Linda on the phone with her friend, boasting
about her plan to outshine me.
“This
little princess needs to learn her place. I’ve waited long enough to have my
moment,” her voice echoed through the hall.
The
crowd was stunned, and a few people even booed. Tom wrapped his arms around me
and whispered, “I told you I had it covered.”
But
the surprise wasn’t over.
Tom
had arranged for Linda’s ex-husband to be the guest speaker. He took the stage,
sharing stories about Linda’s past antics, showing everyone her true nature.
The
result? Linda, red-faced and cornered, slipped out of the hall as quietly as
she could. Tom and I shared a smile, knowing we taught her a lesson her way.
She was in the spotlight as she was wanted but for all the wrong reasons.
Have you had to teach a lesson to someone at your wedding, too?
Post a Comment