A woman is angry and hurt when her husband forgets their 50th wedding anniversary and throws his belongings in the gutter — until he comes home with an unusual excuse.
Betty Carmichael was sure her husband had forgotten their anniversary yet again, only this time she wasn’t going to take it lying down. She had been married to Donald for fifty years and she deserved better!
She had stood by his side through thick and thin and given him three children and the best years of her life, and what did she get? Not even a bouquet of ratty daisies, let alone red roses.
Donald hadn’t brought Betty flowers in years. | Source: Pexels
Betty looked at the wall clock and frowned. 21:30. He hadn’t even bothered to come home for the special dinner she’d prepared! This was the last straw!
Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship, and doubt wears away at the love that holds it together.
Two hours later, Betty heard her husband’s car pull into the driveway and smiled grimly. Donald wasn’t going to enjoy his evening, not one little bit.
She immediately heard a shout: “BETTY! What is going on here!”
She marched outside and stood on the porch, her fists on her hips. “What do you want?” she asked.
Betty prepared a romantic dinner but Donald didn’t come home. | Source: Unsplash
Donald was standing in the garden and he looked very angry. He pointed a finger at an old worn-out recliner sitting on the lawn along with several boxes of books and bric-a-brac.
“What are my things doing out on the lawn?” he asked. “Have you run mad, woman?”
“Mad!” screamed Betty, and the lights went on in the house next door. “You are the one who must be mad! Do you have Alzheimer’s or amnesia? I’m kicking you out. I’m divorcing you!”
“Divorcing me?” gasped Donald, flabbergasted. “I’m seventy-eight years old and you’re seventy-five and you want a DIVORCE?”
“Yes!” cried Betty angrily. “Do you think that just because I’m seventy-five I’m no longer a woman? That you can take me for granted? Well, I won’t let you!”
Betty was sure Donald didn’t love her anymore. | Source: Pexels
“Betty,” Donald said. “Be reasonable. What is this all about?”
“You forgot our anniversary AGAIN!” Betty said angrily. “We’ve been together for fifty years and I have to remind you of my birthday. I understand you weren’t there, but you were definitely there for the wedding!”
“Bets,” Donald protested. “That was the happiest day of my life…”
“Then why don’t you remember it?” Betty asked. “Why don’t you bring me flowers or take me dancing? You don’t love me anymore. You haven’t loved me in years.”
Donald shook his head. “I love you, Betty,” he said. “You are the love of my life…”
Betty brought Donald’s favorite chair out in the street. | Source:Source: Unsplash
“Then why didn’t you come home for dinner?” Betty asked. “I made a special dinner and lit candles and set out flowers and you didn’t show up! Where were you? Out with another woman?”
Donald grinned. “Yes,” he said and stepped aside. Standing there was a slim girl in her twenties with Betty’s blue eyes and Donald’s wide smile.
“Hannah!” Betty cried and ran down the steps. She would have fallen if Donald hadn’t caught her. She threw her arms around the girl and started crying.
“Oh, Hannah,” she sobbed. “It’s been too long! I’ve missed you so much!”
Hannah came to visit her grandparents. | Source: Unsplash
“Hi, Gran Betty,” Hannah said. “I’m sorry we were so late, but my flight was delayed. Poor Gran Donald waited for hours!”
Betty turned to her husband. “You knew she was coming and you didn’t tell me?” she protested.
“I didn’t KNOW,” Donald said triumphantly. “I arranged it! It was supposed to have been your anniversary surprise, but the flight was late… You’ve been complaining about how much you miss your only grandchild, so I sent her a plane ticket!”
“Oh, Don!” Betty cried, and put her arms around her husband. “I’m sorry! I thought… I started thinking crazy things…”
Donald and Betty renewed their vows. | Source: Unsplash
“Betty,” Donald said tenderly. “I haven’t looked at another woman in fifty years and I’m not about to start now.”
“Donald,” Betty said. “What did I do to deserve you?”
“I don’t know,” Don said. “But I can tell you we’re going to have a hell of a time getting all my stuff back in the house where it belongs!”
With Hannah’s help, Don and Betty got everything tidied up and sat down for a midnight snack. “By the way,” Donald said. “I have another surprise for you. Tomorrow night we’re having a party with all our children and all our friends. I’ve arranged for Father Bartholomew to be there so we can renew our vows.”
Betty and Donald had a wonderful anniversary party. | Source: Unsplash
“But what am I going to wear?” gasped Betty.
“I don’t know about the dress, but I have a ring!” Don said, then he dropped down to one knee and pulled out a little jewelry box. “Betty Delancy Carmichael, will you marry me again?”
The next day, the Carmichaels celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in style and Betty looked lovely in a pretty cream suit and a little veil. As Donald kissed her, she vowed never to doubt him again as long as she lived.
What can we learn from this story?
- Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship, and doubt wears away at the love that holds it together. Betty started imagining that Don didn’t love her anymore, and didn’t realize he had a sweet surprise for her.
- Marriage is about every single day, not just the special occasions. Betty forgot that Don was there for every difficult day and stood by her through thick and thin.
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We Were About to Adopt a 5-Year-Old Boy but a Wealthy Couple Stepped in Wanting to Adopt Him Too
Adopting Nicholas was the answer to everything my husband Camden and I had dreamed of, but then a wealthy couple arrived, offering him everything we couldn’t. I feared we’d lost him — until he made a choice no one expected.
Here’s the thing: I never thought life would turn out this way. I always imagined myself in a cozy house filled with the sound of little feet running across the hardwood floors and laughter echoing through the halls.
A back view of a toddler in a diaper running in the garden | Source: Pexels
But that dream got cut short the day my doctor sat me down and said the word “infertile.” It felt like someone had pulled the rug out from under me, leaving me to wonder if my marriage would even survive the weight of that news.
I was terrified Camden would leave me. After all, he had every right to want kids of his own, right? But he surprised me in the most beautiful way. He didn’t flinch. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me and said, “Family isn’t just about biology. Maybe there’s another way.”
An understanding and caring man looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
And that’s when the idea of adoption took root in my heart.
We started the process slowly. Foster care visits, endless paperwork, and meetings with social workers. Camden was a rock through it all, never losing faith, even when I did. Then, one day, everything changed.
We met Nicholas.
He was five, with the biggest brown eyes and a shy smile that made my heart do flips. The moment I saw him, something inside me whispered, this is your son, Zelda.
A little boy | Source: Midjourney
He barely said a word that day, just clung to his toy truck and peeked up at us every now and then. But I could feel it. We connected in a way that went beyond words.
“Do you like trucks, buddy?” Camden asked him, crouching down to his level. Nicholas nodded, not saying a word, but his eyes lit up for just a second. That was enough for me.
Months passed, and we were so close to making him ours. The paperwork, the home visits — everything was falling into place. Then, out of nowhere, everything took a turn.
A surprised woman | Source: Midjourney
“We’ve had another family express interest in Nicholas,” our social worker, Mrs. Jameson, said one afternoon. “They’re quite wealthy and very interested in adopting him.”
My stomach dropped. “But… we’re so close. We’ve been with him for months,” I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.
“I understand, Zelda,” Mrs. Jameson replied. “But they have the right to apply as well. Nicholas will be given time with both families and ultimately, it will be up to him.”
A social worker talking to someone | Source: Midjourney
That’s when we met them. The Featheringhams.
They strolled into the foster home as if they owned the place — polished, perfect, with an air of entitlement that filled the room.
Mrs. Featheringham, tall and blonde, with a diamond necklace glittering around her throat, looked me up and down as if I were something unpleasant she’d found on the bottom of her shoe. Her husband stood beside her, equally well-groomed, surveying Camden and me like we were unworthy competition.
A wealthy man standing in a room | Source: Midjourney
“I have to say,” Mrs. Featheringham began, her voice dripping with condescension, “I’m surprised someone like you would think you have a chance. I mean, just look at yourself—plain, middle-class. What exactly do you have to offer Nicholas?”
I could feel the heat rising to my face, but I forced myself to stay calm. Camden’s hand tightened around mine, steadying me.
A woman looks displeased and a little angry | Source: Midjourney
She wasn’t done. “We can give Nicholas everything—the best private schools, vacations across the globe, a life of luxury. What do you have? A little house in the suburbs? What’s he going to do there, play in the backyard while you struggle to make ends meet?”
Her words were sharp, meant to cut deep, and they did. I could feel Camden tense beside me, but I held him back with a slight squeeze of his hand.
A man looking unhappy and tensed | Source: Midjourney
“We’re the kind of family a child like Nicholas deserves,” she continued, her voice cold. “You should do what’s best for him and step aside. He’ll never choose you. Why would he? Just look at the difference between us.”
Camden couldn’t hold back any longer. “We might not have all the money in the world,” he said, his voice calm but firm, “but what we can offer Nicholas is love, stability, and a real home. That’s what matters.”
Mrs. Featheringham scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Love doesn’t pay for college or vacations. Be realistic.”
A wealthy woman scoffs while looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
Mrs. Jameson, sensing the rising tension, stepped in. “Both families will have a week with Nicholas. After that, he’ll make his decision.”
A week. One week to convince this little boy that we could give him the love and life he deserved.
I took a deep breath and nodded, but inside, my heart was breaking. What if Nicholas didn’t choose us?
An anxious woman | Source: Midjourney
When our week with Nicholas finally arrived, I was filled with a mix of excitement and dread. We’d heard all about his time with the Featheringhams: fancy dinners, amusement parks, and a water park.
Nicholas talked about how they’d bought him new clothes, the latest toys, and basically every child’s dream. Every time he mentioned it, I felt the hope slipping away from us.
Our week, in contrast, was far more humble — and to be honest, it seemed like everything went wrong. We had planned to take Nicholas to the zoo on our first day, thinking he’d love the animals.
A closeup shot of a lion in a zoo | Source: Pexels
But wouldn’t you know it? It rained all day. So instead, we stayed inside and built forts out of old blankets in the living room. Camden even made a “campfire” by arranging some pillows in a circle and holding a flashlight underneath them, making Nicholas giggle.
“Looks just like a real campfire, huh, buddy?” Camden asked, his voice full of hope.
Nicholas nodded, smiling shyly. “Yeah, it’s cool.”
It wasn’t flashy, and definitely not what we’d planned, but for a moment, I thought maybe it wasn’t such a disaster after all.
A smiling little boy | Source: Midjourney
The next day, we tried to take him to a local arcade, hoping to have a fun time. But almost every machine there was broken.
We ended up leaving after a few rounds of air hockey and went to the park nearby instead, sitting under a tree and playing board games we’d brought from home. Camden even found a chess set and started teaching Nicholas how to play.
“Why do all the pieces look so serious?” Nicholas asked, making me laugh.
A closeup shot of chess pieces on a chess board | Source: Pexels
“That’s because it’s a very serious game,” Camden said, leaning in like he was sharing a big secret. “But you know what? The real fun is in breaking the rules every now and then.”
Nicholas giggled as Camden made a rook do a silly dance across the board. It wasn’t what we’d planned, but we were making the best of it. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Nicholas was comparing our simple activities to the extravagant week he’d spent with the Featheringhams.
A little boy riding a carousel | Source: Pexels
By midweek, we decided to have a picnic. We figured it was a safe, easy plan, something that couldn’t possibly go wrong. But sure enough, as soon as we sat down and opened the basket, a swarm of ants decided to join us. Nicholas squealed as they crawled over the sandwiches, and we had to scramble to pack everything up.
“Guess ants like peanut butter more than we do,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Nicholas grinned. “Can we eat somewhere else?”
A happy little boy | Source: Midjourney
We ended up at a little diner around the corner, sitting in a booth and sharing sandwiches and fries. Camden told Nicholas funny stories about his childhood, like the time he’d fallen into a lake trying to catch frogs. Nicholas laughed so hard that he nearly spilled his soda.
Day after day, our plans fell apart, but something surprising happened along the way. Nicholas didn’t seem to mind. By the end of the week, he was holding our hands as we walked around the neighborhood. He laughed with us, even when things didn’t go perfectly.
A woman and a little boy smile while hanging outdoors | Source: Midjourney
One night, during a movie, he curled up on the couch and fell asleep in my lap, his tiny hand resting on mine. It felt so natural, like he belonged there.
On the last night of our week together, Camden and I were both quiet as we watched Nicholas sleep. I could see the worry in Camden’s eyes, even though he tried to hide it.
“I don’t know, Z,” he whispered. “What if it’s not enough? What if we’re not enough?”
A sad and worried man | Source: Midjourney
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I think… I think we’ve shown him what really matters.”
Camden nodded, though I could tell he wasn’t convinced. And to be honest, neither was I.
Then came the final day. The day Nicholas had to choose.
We sat in a small room at the foster home, Camden and I on one side, the Featheringhams on the other. Nicholas sat beside Mrs. Jameson, the social worker, looking down at his hands.
A quiet little boy | Source: Midjourney
Mrs. Featheringham didn’t waste any time. “Nicholas, darling,” she cooed, “we had such a wonderful time, didn’t we? Remember the water park? The toys we bought you? Imagine living with us, having everything you could ever want.
Nicholas nodded, glancing at us. My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest.
“And remember,” she continued, “we can take you on vacations, send you to the best schools… you’d never want for anything, sweetheart.”
A wealthy and self-assured woman is looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. How could we possibly compete with all of that? What could we offer him that they couldn’t?
Mrs. Jameson turned to Nicholas. “Nicholas, it’s your decision. Take your time.”
He looked up, his little face serious. “I had fun with them,” he said softly, referring to the Featheringhams. “The places we went to were cool. And… and they gave me lots of toys.”
I felt Camden’s grip on my hand tighten, but I kept my eyes on Nicholas, my heart sinking with each word.
A little boy playing with toys | Source: Midjourney
“But…” Nicholas paused, looking directly at us. “But I feel like I have a family when I’m with them.”
The room went silent.
He pointed at Camden and me. “They don’t take me to big places or give me lots of stuff… but I feel happy when I’m with them. And I feel safe. And I like the stories they tell me. It feels like home.”
A cheerful little boy | Source: Midjourney
My breath caught in my throat. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Camden looked just as shocked.
Nicholas smiled at us shyly. “I want to stay with them.”
For a moment, no one spoke. Mrs. Featheringham’s face tightened, but she didn’t say anything. Mrs. Jameson smiled warmly.
“Then that’s settled,” she said softly.
Nicholas chose us.
I blinked back tears as Camden wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close. We had worried, doubted, and feared that we weren’t enough.
A happy couple sharing a hug | Source: Midjourney
But in the end, love, trust, and the simple moments had been enough. Nicholas didn’t want a life of luxury; he wanted a family.
And he had found that with us.
If this story tugged at your heartstrings, here’s another one that you might like even more: Larriel moves into a fancy neighborhood with her two sons, hoping for a fresh start. But whispers and cold stares follow them as the neighbors forbid their children from playing with her boys. One unexpected act of bravery, however, changes everything…
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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