“I would say, “Mom, I’m not interested in dating right now.” “I’m focused on my career.”But your profession won’t keep you warm at night, love,” my father, Stephen, would add. “Don’t you want to live with someone?”I would respond, “You guys and my friends share my life.” “That’s enough for me right now.”
However, they refused to give up. “What about so-and-so?” and “Did you hear about this nice young man?” were asked nonstop.
Things took a bad turn one evening.
My folks dropped a bombshell while we were enjoying our typical Sunday supper.”Miley,” my father remarked gravely.
“Your mother and I have been thinking.”I muttered, “Oh boy, here we go.”Ignoring my irony, he went on, “We’ve decided that unless you’re married by your 35th birthday, you won’t see a cent of our inheritance.””
What?” I blurted out. “You can’t be serious!””We are,” my mother added. “Honey, we’re not getting any younger. We want you to be content and settled. And while we’re still young enough to enjoy them, we want grandchildren.”
“This is crazy,” I stammered. “You can’t blackmail me into getting married!””It’s not blackmail,” my father said. “It’s, uh, it’s incentive.”
That night, I was so shocked by what had happened that I stormed out of their house. They had threatened to take away my inheritance if I didn’t find a husband within a few months.
I wasn’t upset because I wanted the money. It was more about the idea behind it. How can they attempt to dictate how I live my life?
I didn’t visit them or return their calls for weeks. Then I had a great idea one evening.
I saw him while I was on my way home from work, thinking about deadlines and spreadsheets. Sitting on the pavement with a cardboard sign requesting change was a man who appeared to be in his late 30s.
He wore filthy clothes, had an unruly beard, and had a harsh appearance, but there was something in his eyes. A melancholy and a kindness that caused me to halt.
I had an idea at that point. Although it was absurd, it seemed like the ideal answer to all of my issues.”Pardon me,” I murmured to the man. “This might sound crazy, but, um, would you like to get married?”
The man’s shocked eyes grew wide. “I’m sorry, what?”I took a deep breath and continued, “Look, I know this is strange, but listen to me.
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