He Gave Her Seat to His Childhood Sweetheart

Karl Henson and I had agreed: our island wedding would include both sets of parents.

The day we were supposed to leave, I waited a long time at the airport.

What I got instead was Karl arriving with his childhood sweetheart, Nellie Swanson, her whole family, and seven or eight of her relatives.

Every one of them held a boarding pass.

Every one of them except my parents.

I asked Karl, "Where are my mom and dad?"

He was pushing Nellie's mother's suitcase along, and he didn't even look up.

"There weren't enough plane tickets."

"I booked them a hard coach seat on the train."

Thirty-some hours in a hard seat.

Then a bus transfer, and after that a boat.

But my dad had just had spinal surgery, and my mom got carsick — two hours in a car and she'd be throwing up.

My voice shook. "Then why does every one of Nellie's relatives have a ticket?"

Karl frowned.

"Nellie's parents are getting on in years. They can't take the wear of a trip like that."

"Besides, her relatives were added at the last minute. We can't make them come all this way for nothing."

That was when my phone rang.

Her voice was careful, timid, like she was afraid of being any trouble to me.

"Sweetheart, it's just that your dad and I have never flown before. We didn't want to embarrass you two."

"The train's nice too. You just sit a while and you're there."

My nose stung, and before I could get a word out, I heard my dad off to the side, stifling a cough.

He seemed afraid I'd hear it, and rushed to lower his voice.

"Don't tell her. It's the big day, her wedding. Don't make her worry."

In that moment, I looked at the cheerful, bustling crowd around Karl.

And all at once I felt there was no reason to go through with this wedding.

——

That was when Nellie came over, eyes red.

"Alice Donaldson, please don't hold this against Karl."

"How about I have my aunt give up her ticket."

She paused, then added softly,

"It's just that it's my aunt's first time going to the island. She's been looking forward to it for so long."

Karl immediately patted the back of her hand.

"What does any of this have to do with you? I'm the one who arranged the tickets."

He turned to look at me, his tone already edged with impatience.

"Nellie's relatives are already here at the airport."

"We can't make them come all this way for nothing."

Someone nearby let out a low laugh.

"Country old-timers are probably more comfortable on a train anyway."

"There are too many rules on a plane. Wouldn't want them making fools of themselves."

Karl clearly heard it.

But all he said was, "They don't mean anything by it."

"It's a happy day. Don't be so sensitive."

I stared at him.

"My dad just had spinal surgery. My mom gets carsick."

"And you're sending them by train to come to my wedding on the island?"

Karl's brow creased.

"Don't make it sound so dire."

"Your folks are used to being frugal. They won't mind taking the train."

"Besides, I already sent them the route. Once they arrive, they transfer to a bus and then a boat. It's very convenient."

He said it so easily.

But the moment I pictured my dad's back, the one he couldn't bend, and my mom's face going pale the instant she got in a car, my chest felt like a fist had clamped down hard around it.

It was my mom.

It was loud on the other end, the train station announcements bleeding through.

Her voice was careful.

"Alice, we're on board."

"The train's nice. Don't you worry."

For a second my throat closed up.

"Mom, you and Dad get off right now."

"I'll buy you both new plane tickets."

My mom said quickly,

"No need, no need. Don't go spending money."

"Your son-in-law has it all arranged so well."

"I've never flown before. I didn't want to embarrass you two."

From beside her came my dad's muffled cough.

He seemed afraid I'd hear it, and hurried to say,

"Don't tell her."

"It's the big day. Don't make her worry."