May 2022 short story of the month, late, but finished
They were getting married in just three weeks, and things were not looking good. They hadn’t found a decent band, and Sheri was not going to have a DJ at her wedding.
While Daryl didn’t have an opinion about anything, his mother, Denise, seemed to have an opinion about everything, even the specifics of their honeymoon. Denise talked Daryl into a shorter trip and even planned their daily itineraries. She didn’t think they should plan a shopping day or scuba diving. She felt it would be better if Sheri and Daryl did a couple’s spa day.
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Option One
Sheri listened to the voicemail from Daryl for the third time and took a deep breath. She held it for longer than was comfortable and when she couldn’t resist it anymore, she exhaled. This wasn’t going to work. She was getting married, not her mother-in-law. This was her wedding, and she was not about to give into Denise’s every suggestion.
There was a simple solution to all of this—very simple.
They would elope, and then as soon as they arrived on the islands, Sheri could change all of the pre-booked activities she wanted.
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Option Two
Sheri listened to the voicemail from Daryl for the third time and mashed the phone to end the call. She slammed the phone onto the counter and paced around the kitchen island.
She was furious. This was the last straw. Her mother-in-law was determined to control everything. Sheri couldn’t get Daryl to tell his mother when enough was enough.
There was a simple solution to this—very simple.
“Sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet,” said Denise to the kitchen as she stopped pacing right in front of the knife block.
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Option Three
Sheri didn’t answer the phone when Daryl called. She let it go to voicemail. All of their conversations lately were about the same thing. She wasn’t interested in having another argument about their wedding. Daryl always opted for whatever his mother told him to choose.
Sheri was having serious doubts about going through with the wedding. It was only a month away. Maybe it was time to say enough is enough.
After all, there was a simple solution to having a fiancé who wouldn’t stand up to his mother–very simple.
She could just end this. She placed her hands on the cool surface of the kitchen counter and took a deep calming breath. Sheri knew what she needed to do.
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Option One
She called Daryl and told him they needed to talk immediately. It went straight to his voicemail, but she didn’t waste any time. She pulled her new luggage out of foyer in the closet. She was saving it for their honeymoon, instead, they would be using it for the wedding and then a honeymoon in Vegas.
She wasn’t one hundred percent sure that Daryl would go for eloping, but she wouldn’t leave him with a choice. It was her or his mother. That was a strange way of phrasing it, but he would understand.
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Option Two
Sheri called Daryl and told him to invite his mother for dinner tomorrow night. She wanted to have a nice quiet evening with just the three of them. The only condition was that they were not going to talk about the wedding.
They all needed a break from that.
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Option Three
Sheri texted Daryl four words, “We need to talk.”
Daryl called Sheri as he left the office, but she didn’t pick up. He didn’t leave a voicemail. He figured she was just going to rant about his mother again. He was too stressed about everything to get in the middle of their petty fighting. He just wanted to get married to Sheri and then his mother would stop. Wouldn’t she?
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Option One
Sheri was waiting in the living room when Daryl got home from work. She had packed both their suitcases.
He raised his eyebrow as he entered the room. “What’s going on?” he asked, gesturing at the luggage. “Going somewhere?”
“We both are,” Sheri replied. “Tonight. I’ve already booked the tickets. We leave in a couple of hours.”
“And where are we going?” asked Daryl.
“Vegas.” Sheri answered but didn’t explain. She figured Daryl could put two and two together himself.
“Is this because of the honeymoon changes? My mom explained why…”
Sheri cut him off, “It’s not just about that. If you love me and want to marry me, we’re eloping to Vegas. This is the only option left.”
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Option Two
Sheri made lasagna, salad, and she even baked a focaccia bread. It was a simple and delicious meal.
Daryl arrived just after six with his mother in tow. Denise walked into their condo with pursed lips. She was clearly biting her tongue.
“Please sit,” said Sheri. “Start with salad. I just have a few things to finish up in the kitchen.”
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Option Three
They talked for hours. In the end, Sheri told him it was over.
Daryl couldn’t believe she wouldn’t just let his mother make a few decisions for them. What was the big deal?
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Option One
They held hands on the entire flight. They went straight to the hotel, put their luggage in their room, and went straight to the chapel.
After the wedding, they had a week to themselves. No one in their family knew where they were.
They knew when they returned home, Denise would be furious, but they were so blissfully happy, they didn’t care.
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Option Two
Neither Daryl nor his mother suspected anything. They were both dead before the lasagna was ready.
Sheri ate her’s in the kitchen with a fresh piece of baked bread.
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Option Three
Sheri moved out of the condo and into her sister’s basement. She lived with them for nearly six months before she could afford to move out. Daryl’s mother had insisted she pay back half the cost of the wedding.
It was the price of freedom, and she gladly paid it.
Still Working on My Novel 