When Carina’s parents kick her out of high school, she is forced to manage her own existence. Years later, after achieving success in her life and with her wedding approaching, she contacts them, only for them to burst into her life, attempting to seize control of what she has worked so hard for. “I don’t see why it can’t be the both of you,” she said, dipping a cookie into her lukewarm tea.
“Why waste your time on computers? “Those machines will not make your life more comfortable.”
This was not anything new. My parents despised the fact that I enjoyed computers, and when school ended in a few months, I planned to go college and study information technology.
“Who cares about cyber security, Carina?” my father inquired as he sat down with a pork chop. “Saving lives, honey. That’s what success is.
“Not playing on computers.”
“Cyber security is how your important details are protected, Dad,” I used to say, rolling my eyes. “It’s how countries keep their people safe.”
“It’s not good enough,” my mother remarked from the sink. After graduation, my parents made me leave the house.
“You’ve chosen this path,” my mother said when I bought my IT textbooks. “So you’re capable of taking care of yourself.”
“I don’t think that’s fair, Mom,” I retaliated. “You let Jade live at home for her whole degree.”
“Yeah, well, she was learning how to save lives, Carina,” she said.
Fast forward 13 years. I’ve got a successful career, a beautiful house, and the most caring fiancé, Mark, I could have ever asked for. “Are you sure that I should invite my parents to the wedding?” I asked Mark as we took a walk one evening.
“Yes, darling,” he said, taking my hand. “Why wouldn’t you? I’m so proud of who you are and where you’ve come from.
You’ve done all of this on your own.”
“But they’ve been such horrible people, Mark. I mean, they kicked me out of their home when I got into college. I had to work as a dog groomer to make enough money to cover the rent for my tiny apartment,” I said.
“Yes, I understand that,” my fiancé said diplomatically. “But you’ve made it now. And you’ve made it without them.
Look, honey. Our home is yours; it’s in your name, and I love that for us.”
Eventually, I gave in. The excitement of our wedding planning made me realize that I was proud of myself and where I had come from.
“I did it without their support,” I told Mark as I fried bacon for us one morning. “So, I’m going to invite them.”
Mark smiled at me while he poured milk into his coffee. “Good, this is a big moment for us,” he said.
When my parents and sister came, they were astounded by my home. They assumed I was renting a room in the house. Of course, they did not believe I was capable of anything more.
“Carina! “You own the entire house?” My father questioned, his eyes widening in surprise. “Yes, Dad,” I responded, pulling my mother’s bag in; they seemed to think they were staying the night.
“I worked hard for this.”
“Wow, I didn’t expect this,” my sister exclaimed, looking around. “So, I thought that we could do dinner at a restaurant tonight, and then come home for dessert and coffee. You guys can spend time with Mark and my in-laws.”
They were going to be over at any moment, the first meet and greet almost underway.
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