Carol Delgado and I had planned an island wedding, and we'd agreed to bring both sets of parents along.
The day we were supposed to leave, I waited a long time at the airport.
What I got instead was Carol showing up with her childhood friend Harry Weiss and his whole family, plus seven or eight of his relatives.
Every one of them had a boarding pass in hand.
Everyone except my parents.
I asked Carol, "Where are my mom and dad?"
She was pushing a suitcase for Harry's mother and didn't even look up.
"There weren't enough plane tickets."
"I booked them coach seats on the train."
Over thirty hours in a hard seat.
Then a transfer to a bus, then a ferry.
But my dad had just had spinal surgery, and my mom got motion sick. Two hours in a car and she'd throw up.
My voice was shaking. "Then why does every one of Harry's relatives have a ticket?"
Carol frowned.
"Harry's parents are getting on in years. They can't take that kind of wear and tear."
"Besides, his relatives were all last-minute additions. We can't just make them come out here for nothing."
My phone rang then.
Her voice on the other end was careful, cautious, like she was afraid of being a burden to me.
"Tom Gilbertmy, it's just that the two of us have never flown before. We were afraid we'd embarrass you."
"The train's just fine. You sit a while and before you know it you're there."
My nose stung. Before I could say anything, I heard my dad in the background, smothering a cough.
He seemed afraid I'd hear it, and quickly dropped his voice.
"Don't tell the boy. It's his wedding, a happy day. Don't make him worry."
In that moment, I looked at the lively crowd of people clustered around Carol.
And all at once I felt there was no reason to go through with this wedding.
——
Harry came over then, his face uneasy.
"Tom, don't blame Carol."
"How about I have my aunt give up her ticket?"
He paused, then added in a small voice,
"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."
Carol immediately patted the back of his hand.
"What does any of this have to do with you? I'm the one who arranged the tickets."
She turned to look at me, her tone already edged with impatience.
"Harry's relatives are already here at the airport."
"We can't just make them come out for nothing."
Someone nearby laughed under their breath.
"Country folks are probably more comfortable on a train anyway."
"There are so many rules on a plane. Wouldn't want them making fools of themselves."
Carol clearly heard it.
But all she said was, "They didn't mean anything by it."
"It's a happy day. Don't be so sensitive."
I stared at her.
"My dad just had spinal surgery. My mom gets carsick."
"And you're sending them to my wedding on the island by train?"
Carol's brow creased.
"Don't make it sound so dire."
"Your parents are used to being frugal. They won't mind taking the train."
"Besides, I already sent them the route. They transfer to a bus and a ferry when they arrive. It's very convenient."
She said it so easily.
But the second I pictured my dad's back that couldn't bend, my mom's face going white the moment a vehicle started moving, something clamped down hard on my chest.
My phone rang right then.
It was my mom.
It was loud on her end, train station announcements bleeding through.
Her voice was careful.
"Tommy, we're on board now."
"The train's nice. Don't worry."
My throat closed up in an instant.
"Mom, get off the train right now."
"I'll book you both plane tickets again."
My mom said hurriedly,
"No, no, don't go wasting money."
"Our daughter-in-law arranged everything just fine."
"I've never flown before. I was afraid I'd embarrass you."
My dad's muffled cough came through beside her.
As if he was afraid I'd hear it, he quickly said,
"Don't tell the boy."
