I was jealous of how easily Alex’s family had accepted our decision to leave them out, even when I could tell that some of them were really disappointed that we hadn’t included them in our big day. His family was so genuinely nice that I dreaded calling my own.
By the time we sat down at the kitchen table and turned on my laptop, I was a nervous wreck and trying not to let Alex see how anxious I was. I would have preferred to call my aunt and uncle privately because I knew exactly how the conversation would go, but after being included in Alex’s announcements, I couldn’t think of a good excuse to leave him out.
“I haven’t spoken to you in weeks,” my aunt said, her home office coming into focus as she answered the video call. “Where have you been?”
“Hi, Auntie,” I replied, turning my laptop until both me and Alex were in the camera’s frame. I was really glad he’d decided to put a shirt on for our video chat, since my aunt was surprised enough to see him sitting next to me. “Alex,” I said, “this is my auntie Adinah.”
“Alex,” Aunt Adinah murmured. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You too, ma’am,” Alex replied, clearing his throat and showing just how nervous he was under his cool exterior.
“How is everyone?” I asked, trying to pull her attention away from my husband. I knew my question hadn’t worked, because her eyes were still moving over the screen as she took in the details of Alex and our surroundings.
“They’re well,” she replied. “Where are you, Sarai?”
“We’re at Alex’s apartment,” I said, my palms beginning to sweat. Then, because I was a fool, I just blurted it out. “Our apartment, actually.”
“Excuse me?” she asked sharply as my uncle came into view room behind her.
“It’s our apartment,” I replied as Alex’s strong fingers laced with mine under the table.
“You moved?” my uncle asked, his voice calm but suspicious as he sat down next to my aunt.
“Yes.” I swallowed hard. I needed to tell them that we were married; it was the entire purpose of our call, but with them staring at me in disbelief, I couldn’t find the words.
“We actually called to tell you the good news,” Alex said, his voice calm as my heart raced. He squeezed my hand in solidarity, and I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I was frozen with fear.
“Sarai?” my aunt asked, her brows drawn together.
“We got married,” I finally said, lifting my hand to show off my ring. I tried and failed to smile as my aunt snapped backward as if I’d slapped her.
“You what?” my uncle asked, his voice lower but no less calm.
“Tell me you’re joking,” Aunt Adinah said, pursing her lips. “Tell me this is a joke.”
“I’m not joking,” I said, my throat burning as she paled.
“Sarai Levy,” she said, tears in her voice as she stared at me. “You didn’t even tell us you were engaged.”
Alex’s hand tightened around mine, but I couldn’t look away from my aunt and uncle, who were visibly disappointed.
“Why would you call to give me this news?” my aunt asked. “You clearly don’t care what I think if you ran off and got married to a stranger without a word to anyone.”
“He’s not a stranger,” I whispered.
“He’s a stranger to me,” she shot back, her voice trembling.
“I know that you’ll love him,” I replied. “He’s a good man.”
My aunt huffed and waved her hand as if she were brushing me away. When she stood up and walked out of the camera’s view, I had a hard time holding back the sob that rose up in my throat.
“Give her time,” my uncle said with a sigh. “She’s heartbroken.” He reached forward and closed the laptop without saying good-bye, and I knew that my aunt’s heart wasn’t the only one I’d broken.
I stared blankly at the black screen. I’d known they’d be angry. I’d prepared myself for that. But I hadn’t anticipated how hurt they’d be. I’d screwed up.
“Well, that went well,” Alex said jokingly, his hand coming up to rest on my back.
My laugh turned into a painful sob, and once the tears began, I couldn’t control them.
“Shit,” Alex murmured, pulling me onto his lap. “I’m so sorry, baby,” he whispered against my hair, his hand rubbing my back in long sweeping strokes. “It’ll be okay. They’ll come around.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that he might be wrong. That my aunt still carried grudges from high school, and that even though my uncle had seemed calmer than her, he was feeling this betrayal just as deeply.
We stayed there in the kitchen, with me curled up like a child in Alex’s lap long after my sobs had turned to silent tears. I thought about my parents, and I couldn’t stop myself from imagining that they’d be happy for me. That they’d give Alex a chance. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but I daydreamed about how the news would make my mama’s eyes light up, and how my dad’s would grow teary, but he’d pull me into one of his warm hugs and whisper in Hebrew how happy he was for me.