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A Feeling You Can't Ignore
Diane sat in the rose garden of London's luxurious Hyde Park Hotel and quietly cried. Her youngest sister, Sarah, had just got married, she was so happy for her but that's not why she was crying. She'd cried too when her other sister, Sylvia, got married two years earlier. She had started to hate weddings, the last few years had been a whirlwind of family and friends married off. But not her.
Real fear gripped Diane. A matter of weeks before her 33rd birthday she looked fabulous, at least that's what everyone said. She was attractive, slim and famous for her beautiful long black hair. Why then was she alone at yet another wedding? Why couldn't she even bring a date to this one? She sniffled and composed herself. Can't let my little sister see me like this she decided. She stood up, straightened out her beautiful pink bridesmaid dress and made her way back into the reception room. As the music wafted out the doors, she could hear the clink of glasses and the laughter and buzz of people living it up. She didn't feel part of it but she knew in a few hours she'd be back at home with her ever loyal chocolate brown labrador.
"Diane, over here," she heard a familiar voice above the chatter of the crowd. She turned to her left and spotted her grandmother waving to her from a table by the dance floor. She rushed over, kissed and hugged her, delighted to see her, "Gran, I thought you weren't coming. I'm so glad you made it. Where's granddad?"
"Our flight from Paris was delayed. Your grandfather took me over there for a romantic weekend," her eyes twinkled. "He's nipped out to get me a packet of mints. He knows I won't last more than a few hours without some," she laughed. "So, where's your date, Diane? Don't hide the men from me. I warned you about that before."
"I'm afraid it's just me, gran. I don't mind though. It means I get more time to meet everyone," Diane lied. "Sarah looks beautiful, she's enjoying her big day so much, I'm so happy for her. And did you hear? Sylvia is pregnant. She's over the Moon."
"Yes, lots of good news. I'm looking forward to having some great grandchildren to spoil. It make me very happy to see you all grow up and doing so well. It's simply marvelous to see.
"Enough about them, how are you, Diane? Any news? Any new men in your life or maybe a special one?"
"Not yet gran. Everything else has worked out to plan, I just don't know what I'm doing wrong when it comes to men, that's a complete disaster as far as I'm concerned. To be perfectly honest I'm starting to think I'll just have to accept that men don't like me very much, I'm just too much of a handful. Few men want the challenge of taking me on, I'm 33 years old, successful and strong willed. Most of them just can't handle that."
"Diane, I love all of my grandchildren very much, you all light up my day. And, you and I, we've always had a special bond, you know that don't you? Have you ever wondered why that is?"
"Not really, you're my gran, it's just how it's always been." Diane frowned.
"Diane, it's because you remind me of myself. I was just like you when I was a young lady. I was ambitious, very determined and good at whatever I put my mind to. However, I also had a dark side. I had a fiery temper and I could be quite stubborn. I was very demanding when it came to men and I was looking for a great man to be my husband, anyone average just would not do, so I had very high standards.
"And you know what they gave me? Years of misery, I had 5 brothers and sisters, and they were all married off before me. Even my young brother was married before I had a steady boyfriend, and he always swore he'd never get married. That just shows you what a problem child I was for my parents."
"Really, gran? You're not just saying this to make me feel good. How did you end up with granddad in that case? I don't understand."
"One day I was feeling sorry for myself and I went to visit my Aunt Greta, she was a wonderful woman, always happy, always delighted to see me. So, I went to see her for afternoon tea and I poured my heart out to her, I started crying, she had never seen me like that, I was always so strong and so together. After I calmed down she told me a secret that would change my life and shortly after I met your granddad. And I can, hand on my heart, I love him more today after 48 years of marriage than the day we met."
"I never knew that, gran. So, quick, tell me, what's the secret?"
"Hold your horses young lady, all in good time. But first don't you want to know how I met your granddad?"
Diane grabbed her grandmother's hand. "Yes, but please, the secret, tell me that first?"
"Diane, dear, I need to tell you the story first. The secret won't mean so much otherwise. Here's what happened...
