After years of love and a journey shared with the world, Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper said “I do” in an intimate ceremony. With just family by their side, they turned their big day into a “dream come true.”

Greg Mathis Jr. and Elliott Cooper’s wedding was a heartfelt celebration set against the sun-drenched shores of Cabo San Lucas.

The couple said “I do” on October 21, at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria, surrounded by just 15 of their closest family members.

The 5-star hotel became a sanctuary of love for Greg Jr., 35, and Elliott, 49, who marked the occasion in custom high-waisted suits.

Greg Jr., opted for a classic navy blue suit while Elliott donned a striking purple one—a color chosen to honor his late mother, who lost her life to lupus during his college years.

The grooms’ style was timeless exactly as Greg Jr. had envisioned. Speaking about their wedding outfits, Greg Jr. noted, “We both wanted a look that was classic, but also with some flair and our own personal style and touch.”

The couple first met through mutual friends on Valentine’s Day in 2016.

While exchanging their vows, Broadway star Kyle Freeman performed Luther Vandross’ “Here and Now,” capturing the joy and gravity of their union.

Once the reception began, the newlyweds changed into their second outfits ready to celebrate with their family.

Their beach-themed decor, designed by event planner Andrew Roby, transformed the sandy shores into an elegant affair.

The couple opted for dark purple, navy, and black with bright yellow accents, creating a striking yet serene vibe.

But that’s not the end of the celebration; the newlyweds plan a bigger ceremony in Los Angeles next year. They said that their Mexico wedding was all about creating a “family trip” feel a chance to make memories with their loved ones.

After the two publicly came out about their relationship on Greg Jr’s family reality show, “Mathis Family Matters,” in 2022, they’ve always put their family at the heart of their bond.

“Family is one thing with Greg and I that really solidified our relationship in the beginning,” Elliott shared. “Family is super important to me and us because we know that they love us and we love them.”

Cabo San Lucas was the perfect backdrop for their ceremony. The location holds special meaning for them, as it was the destination of their first trip together when they started dating.

Since then, the Mexico tourist destination has become one of their favorite vacation spots. “We love the beach … and the ambience has such a natural beauty,” Elliott explains.

Before the wedding, a welcome dinner at Nobu Los Cabos set the tone for the days to come. The ceremony itself was deeply personal, with the grooms’ fathers, officiating together.

It was an idea Greg Jr. came up with to make the moment even more meaningful. Reflecting on the day, the reality star said it was special and “a dream come true.”

Before exchanging vows, Greg Jr. and Elliott had already spent eight years together.

They marked their anniversary this past February—the same month they first met. Greg Jr. commemorated the milestone on Instagram, sharing photos of the couple and a heartfelt caption.

“Yesterday, we celebrated our 8 Year Anniversary alongside Valentine’s Day! ❤️It was great to sit down with Pride.com to talk about our recent engagement, careers and life on the West Coast,” he wrote capturing the joy of their journey together.

The couple announced their engagement back in July through Instagram. They celebrated the moment by sharing several snaps on the photo-sharing platform. Speaking to a publication, Greg Jr. said, “To be completely honest, for many years, we weren’t sure if we wanted to formally get married.”

The judge’s son revealed that he and Elliott knew they loved each other and wished to be lifelong partners, but “marriage seemed a bit more difficult to visualize.” The star’s now-husband noted how there weren’t “many married couples” like themselves to look up to.

Still, they viewed their wedding as a “must-have” because representation is important in the LGBTIQ+ community. The couple said getting married is bigger than the institution because it is more about them having “a special way to honor the life we have built together.”

The pair shared their awareness of the times we live in now and what their relationship “represents to others.” They realized that their relationship and marriage can guide young and old Queer people who, like them, “deserve to know that there is nothing wrong with them and that they have a place in this world.”

On September 29, 2023, Elliott proposed to Greg Jr. at Los Angeles’ Republique French-themed restaurant. The establishment reminded them of their past anniversary trips to Paris. The country also happened to be the first place where they felt safe enough to hold hands.

Greg Jr. described Republique as their “little piece of Paris in Los Angeles.” Their friends and family were invited to the occasion under the pretense of supporting the pair at the 2023 Los Angeles Walk to End Lupus, which the couple hosted.

After having the first dinner course, Elliott proposed. Greg Jr. recalled how their loved ones “were so excited we couldn’t even finish the rest of our meal.” Still, what the judge’s son looks forward to is the honeymoon.

He said he hoped to convince Elliott to allow them to visit Bora Bora. The reality television star also can’t wait for them to start their family and to continue experiencing life together. He shared, “We are already a solid unit, but I’m excited for all of the added fun that the ‘Mathis-Coopers’ are going to have.”

After my son convinced me to live in a nursing home, I wrote letters to him daily telling him I missed him. He never replied to any of them until one day, a stranger shared why and came to take me home.

When I turned 81, I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis, which made it difficult for me to move around without assistance. My condition also made it difficult for my son Tyler and his wife Macy to take care of me, so they decided to move me to a nursing home.

“We can’t be tending to you the entire day, mom,” Tyler told me. “We have work to do. We’re not caregivers.”

I wondered why he suddenly felt that way towards me, as I always tried to stay out of their way so I wouldn’t disrupt their daily schedules. I would stay in my room and use my walker to assist me whenever I needed to walk to another area of the house.

“I’ll stay out of your way, I promise. Just don’t send me to a nursing home, please. Your father built this house for me, and I’d love to keep living here for the rest of my life,” I begged.

Tyler shrugged me off, saying that the house my late husband James had built was “too big for me.”

“Come on, mom,” he said. “Leave the house to Macy and me! Look at all this space – we can have a gym and separate offices. There’s plenty of room to renovate.”

At this point, I understood that his decision to move me to a nursing home was not because he wanted me to get proper care but to get my house for himself. I was deeply hurt, trying to stop myself from crying upon realizing that somehow, Tyler had grown up to be a selfish man.

“Where did I go wrong?” I asked myself when I got into my room that night. I thought I had raised a well-mannered man, but it seems I was wrong. I never expected to be betrayed by my son.

Without giving me much of a choice, Tyler and Macy took me to a nursing home nearby, where they said I’d get round-the-clock care from the nurses. “Don’t worry, mom, we’ll visit as much as we can,” Tyler assured me.

Hearing this, I realized that maybe moving to a nursing home wasn’t too bad because they’d come to see me anyway. Little did I know, Tyler was lying and simply trying to get me off his back.

Every day at the nursing home seemed like an eternity. Although the nurses were friendly and the other patients were nice to talk to, I still longed to be with family and not in a place full of strangers.

Without a phone or tablet, I wrote letters to Tyler every day asking him to visit me or how they were doing. Not once did I get a response nor a visit.

After two years in the nursing home, I lost any hope of anyone coming. “Please, take me home,” I would pray every night, but after two years, I tried to convince myself not to get my hopes up anymore.

One day, however, I was surprised to find out from my nurse that a man in his forties was at the counter, looking for me. “Did my son finally come to visit?” I said, getting my walker quickly before making my way to the front.

When I got there, I had a big smile on my face thinking it was Tyler, but to my surprise, it was another man I hadn’t seen in ages. “Mom!” he called out and gave me a tight hug.

“Ron? Is it you, Ron?” I asked him.

“It’s me, mom. How have you been? I’m sorry it took me so long to visit you. I just arrived back from Europe, and I went straight to your house,” he said.

“My house? Did you see Tyler and Macy there? They put me in this nursing home a couple of years ago, and I haven’t seen them since,” I revealed.

Ron looked at me sadly and asked for me to sit down. We sat in front of each other on the couch, and he began to fill me in on what had happened in the past two years I was inside the nursing home.

“Mom, I’m sorry you have to hear this from me. I thought you already knew,” he started to say. “Tyler and Macy died in a house fire last year… I only found out when I went to your house and saw it abandoned. I decided to check the mailbox to see if I could get information on where to find you, and I saw all your unread letters,” he explained.

I couldn’t believe what Ron was telling me. Although I felt resentment towards my son for what he did to me, hearing about his death still broke my heart. I cried that entire day, mourning him and my daughter-in-law Macy.

Throughout my crying, Ron never left my side. He consoled and stayed with me without saying a word until I was ready to speak again.

Ron was a boy I once took into my home. He and Tyler were childhood friends and were inseparable when they were younger.

Unlike Tyler, who had everything he could possibly want, Ron lived in poverty and was raised by his grandmother after his parents passed away. I treated him like my own son, fed him, clothed him, and made him live with us until he moved out to study college in Europe.

After getting a high-paying job in Europe, Ron didn’t return to the US, and we eventually lost touch. I never thought I’d see him again until he showed up at the nursing home.

“Mom,” he said after I finally calmed down. “I don’t believe you belong here in this nursing home. Will you please allow me to take you home? I would love to take care of you,” he said.

I couldn’t help but cry once more. My own son kicked me out of my house, and in front of me was a man who wanted to take me in, even though I wasn’t his blood relative. “Would you really do that for me?”

“Of course, mom. You don’t even have to ask that. You raised me to be who I am today. Without you, I’m nothing,” Ron said, hugging me.

That evening, Ron helped Jude pack her things and took her into his newly-purchased home. There, Jude discovered he had a large family, and they welcomed Jude warmly. She spent her last years in happiness, surrounded by people who truly loved her and cared for her.

What can we learn from this story?

Respect your elders and never forget what they’ve done for you. Tyler didn’t show appreciation to his mom despite everything she had done for him. He didn’t want the responsibility of taking care of her when she got older and chose to send her to a nursing home.

Family doesn’t always mean blood. Ron didn’t see Jude for years but never forgot about the kindness she showed him when he was younger. Ultimately, he decided to repay her kindness by taking her in and caring for her for the rest of her life.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a son who visited his dad at a nursing home, only for the nurse to say that his carbon copy had taken the old man home a day before.

A disabled girl who falls behind without a prom date is in for a surprise when her dad takes her to the prom. The reward he gets the next day in recognition of his love for his child transforms their lives.

“Molly, look! Your dad’s here!” someone from the funeral told the 17-year-old girl who was mourning over her mother Daisy’s coffin.

Danny, Molly’s dad, and her mom had divorced ten years ago. Since then, Molly had only heard terrible things about her father—like he was a ‘drunkard’ and such.

Though Molly didn’t have any bitterness towards Danny, she often missed their dad-daughter connection. But after her mom’s funeral, things were going to change for Molly…

“Hey, sweetheart!” Danny greeted his daughter and hugged her before placing a wreath on his ex-wife’s coffin.

“Sir, is that truck yours? It’s blocking half the parking. You mind moving it?” a guest asked Danny, who was a truck driver.

“Yeah, that’s ma truck. Gimme a second. I’ve just met ma daughter. Hope ya understand. Thank ya!”

Danny was delighted to meet Molly. The only link he had with her all these years was through the child support he paid for her. Daisy never allowed him to see Molly because she feared he would become a bad influence.

The funeral was over, and everybody left. Danny packed all of Molly’s stuff and told her they were going to his house.

“A parcel? Who sent it?” he wondered. A card on it read: “For Dad of the Year”

“But why, dad? I can’t leave this house. Mom and I lived here. It’s filled with our memories.”

Molly frowned because Danny wouldn’t listen. He knew he could not leave his daughter alone, particularly considering she often used a wheelchair when she didn’t need crutches. Due to an underlying condition she had developed in her left leg when she was six, Molly limped.

Two days later, Molly moved in with her dad. Though the house was compact and untidy, it comforted her and made her feel loved and included.

As days passed, Danny had difficulty doing things for Molly. Since he never saw her grow up, he did not know how to tackle most things, like braiding her hair, for example. He learned how to do it by watching online videos. But that was not all.

He vacated his bedroom so that Molly would have a nice space to sleep. He even bought a fluffy new bed so that she could rest well. Danny did everything on his end to make his daughter feel at home, but if there was something he kept a secret, it was his constant disappearance at night.

Molly had no idea where her dad had been going at night after she fell asleep. She could only guess he was loitering with his friends in the pub, just as her mother often told her.

A few days later, Molly stepped down from the school bus and entered their home, crying. She found the door was locked. There was a note tucked behind a plant. “The keys are under the pot. I will be back soon. See ya! – Dad.”

Molly scowled and recalled her mother telling her about her dad’s ‘odd’ habits in the evenings. She frowned thinking her father was out drinking at four in the afternoon.

Hours passed, but Danny never returned home. Molly cooked herself pasta, leaving some for her dad. Then she lay on her bed crying.

“If only I was normal, I wouldn’t be the odd one out. I would have found a date for the prom.”

It turned out that Molly’s teacher had informed them about their upcoming senior prom. All her classmates had found prom dates except for Molly. Nobody was interested in taking her. She figured—who would want to dance with someone with a limp?

Molly cried so loudly that Danny heard her as soon as he arrived home.

“What happened, darling? Why are you crying?”

Molly told him about the prom. “I don’t have a date. I even asked some boys if one of them would at least dance with me during prom, but they refused and laughed. I don’t want to go to the prom, daddy! I want to be alone! Goodnight!”

Molly turned her back on Danny and pretended to sleep, tears soaking her pillow.

Danny couldn’t just leave his daughter in distress. The next day, he bought Molly a beautiful prom dress. And on prom day, Molly was in for a huge tear-jerking surprise. Her dad was taking her to prom.

Senior students and their parents were flocking outside the hall when a loud screeching roar of an engine drew their attention.

Danny jumped down from the truck. He put a wheelchair on the lawn and helped Molly get out. He pushed the wheelchair on the red carpet as the gathering watched in amazement.

Danny hit the dance floor with his daughter as the music rolled. He lifted Molly and carried her around in circles, syncing with the melodious musical night. For a moment, Molly forgot that she had a disability and laughed her heart out as her dad kept swaying her in his arms.

“My dad is my real superhero. I love him more than anything else in this world. I feel blessed and proud to say I’m his daughter,” Molly cried to her friends after the dance.

Meanwhile, Danny became the show stealer. All the parents flocked around him to praise and applaud him. Danny then shared a bit about himself and his daughter, knowing little about how that evening would soon change their lives.

Danny and Molly returned home, talking about the fun they had. Then Danny put Molly to sleep in her bedroom and silently crept out of the house.

It turned out Danny had been working a second job as a caregiver at a local nursing home. Besides his part-time day gig as a truck driver, he worked overtime to save money for his daughter’s treatment. When Molly’s disability was diagnosed years ago, many told Danny and Daisy that she would never be able to walk.

But one doctor had assured them he would treat the girl and restore her ability to walk. So Danny quit partying in pubs with his friends and started working two jobs.

Daisy had misunderstood him and thought he was wasting his time at the pub. Danny tried explaining to her, but she never trusted him. Her constant doubts and heated arguments led to their split shortly after. Danny never bothered because he was only focused on saving money for Molly’s surgery and worked hard for the next several years.

It pained Danny whenever he recalled his past. Even that night, while driving to work, he could not shake his thoughts off the terrible things his ex-wife told him. He finished his shift and returned home, unprepared for the surprise that awaited him and Molly.

That morning, when he returned home from work, Danny was in for a sweet surprise when he found a package in his mailbox.

“A parcel?? Who sent it?” he wondered. A card on it read: “Dad of the Year!”

Inside, Danny found a check for $10,000 and another note:

“Dear Danny, we hope this will improve your daughter’s life. Good luck with her surgery, and we hope you spend more time with her in the evenings. Best Wishes, Your Prom Buddies!”

Danny realized the parents he’d met the previous night were behind this. He shed tears of joy and shared the good news with Molly.

“Really?! My God, daddy…This is unbelievable!” She laughed and cried on his shoulders.

With the money Danny had saved and the $10,000 check, Molly got her surgery. It was successful, and gradually, she was able to walk without crutches.

Meanwhile, Danny quit his second job to spend more time with his daughter. She earned a scholarship to study architecture in another state and was set to leave in three months.

Danny wanted to make the best use of the available time he had with Molly. He taught her to cook, dance, cycle, and even run. He just wanted his daughter to live a normal life and never look back to the days when she was using a wheelchair and crutches.

What can we learn from this story?

• There is no stronger love in the world than a parent’s love. Danny walked the extra mile to help his daughter walk. He worked two jobs to save money for her surgery and even took her to prom when she did not have a date.
• A father is always a superhero to their children. Even when everybody told Danny his daughter could never walk again, he did not lose hope and worked towards making her walk again. He was her true superhero and inspiration for life.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

A one-handed boy makes broth for his late friend’s sick grandma despite facing difficulties. One day, the older woman returns his kindness in the most unexpected way. Click here to read the full story.

Social media has a way of creeping into your life, becoming a part of your relationships, whether you like it or not. It’s harmless for the most part — cute pictures and updates for friends and family. But sometimes, things take a turn you never see coming.

Mark and I had been together for almost a year. Honestly, he was the perfect boyfriend. Sweet, caring, and always making me laugh, whether we were out hiking or just watching TV on a lazy Sunday. I felt so lucky to have him in my life. So, I figured it was time to make things official on Facebook.

We were on a hiking trail one afternoon when we snapped a picture together. It was cute — us smiling with the sun shining behind us. “Just me and my favorite person on our latest adventure!” I captioned it, adding a couple of heart emojis. I shared the post, excited to share a bit of our happiness with the world.

Then, ten minutes later, I got a notification that made my stomach drop. It wasn’t a like or a comment. It was a message: “YOU MUST RUN FROM HIM. NOW.”

I stared at my phone, my heart pounding. Who would send something like that? I clicked on the profile, hoping for some clue, but there was nothing — no info, no pictures, just a blank, empty page. The message itself was terrifying enough, but this? It was like a ghost had sent it.

I glanced at Mark, who was busy tossing our backpacks into the car, completely unaware of the storm building inside me. Should I tell him?

My mind raced, but before I could even process what was happening, another message popped up: “Don’t tell Mark anything. Listen carefully. Smile, don’t be aggressive with him. You don’t know what he’s capable of. You got it?”

I could feel the blood drain from my face. What was this? Who was sending these messages? And why were they so certain I was in danger?

I looked over at Mark again. He waved at me with that same easy smile he always had. He didn’t look dangerous. But the messages had a strange kind of urgency, and they scared me enough that I decided to play along, at least for now.

I forced a smile and walked over to him, trying to keep my voice steady. “Ready to go?”

“Everything okay?” Mark asked, his eyes searching mine.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Yeah, it’s just my mom. I’ll text her later.”

That night, I couldn’t shake the messages. They replayed in my mind over and over, making me question everything. Mark had always been so sweet, so loving. But what if… what if I didn’t really know him? What if there was something darker beneath the surface?

Over the next few days, things only got worse. I’d catch him staring at me, not saying anything, just watching. It was unsettling. One night, I was reading on the couch, and when I looked up, there he was, his eyes locked on me. When I asked if everything was okay, he shrugged like it was no big deal. But it felt like a big deal.

Then, one morning, my phone buzzed with another message from the same anonymous profile: “Meet me at Bayou Bakery tomorrow at 2 p.m. I’ll give you the evidence. Don’t tell Mark. Make up an excuse.”

My hands were shaking as I read it. Evidence? Of what? What could they possibly have on him? I needed to know. But how could I lie to Mark? What if he was watching me too closely? What if he already suspected something?

“I’m meeting my mom for lunch tomorrow,” I said casually over breakfast, trying not to let my voice tremble.

Mark didn’t look up from his coffee right away. “Really? You didn’t mention it before.”

“Oh, yeah,” I replied quickly, my heart racing. “She called last night. Last minute thing.”

Mark finally met my eyes, his expression unreadable. “Alright,” he said slowly.

I tried to focus on my coffee, but all I could feel was the weight of his gaze as if he was trying to see straight through me.

The next day, I left the house. As I slipped out the door, I could feel Mark’s eyes on me. I tried to act normal, but my stomach was in knots. Every time I looked back at him, there was that same unreadable look on his face. Was he suspicious? Did he know something was wrong?

I got to Bayou Bakery early. My heart was pounding as I sat at a small table near the window. The smell of coffee and fresh pastries did nothing to calm my nerves. Every time the door opened, I jumped, expecting to see someone mysterious with the answers to all my questions.

But ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Nothing.

I stared at my phone, wondering if this had all been some kind of cruel joke. Just as I was about to leave, the door swung open again, and my heart nearly stopped. It was Mark.

“Ellie?” His voice was cautious, confused. “What are you doing here? I thought you were meeting your mom.”

My throat went dry. “I… I thought you were at work. What are you doing here?”

He walked over and sat down across from me, his eyes scanning the room. “I got a message. Someone told me to come here. They said I needed to see something about you.”

My head was spinning. “You got a message? About me?”

He nodded, his face full of uncertainty. “Yeah. I didn’t believe it at first, but then you started acting weird. I didn’t know what to think.”

I stared at him, my pulse racing. This whole time, he had been receiving the same kind of messages I had. It didn’t make any sense. Why would someone do this to us?

Before we could say another word, the door to the bakery opened again. I looked up, and there was Andrew, one of our mutual friends, grinning like a fool. He walked straight over to our table and pulled up a chair like he had been waiting for this moment all along.

“Surprise!” he said with a smirk.

Mark and I just gaped at him, completely bewildered.

“Andrew, what the hell is going on?” I demanded, my voice shaking with anger.

Andrew leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. “Relax. It was just a prank. Well, more like a test.”

“A test?” Mark’s tone was ice-cold. “You scared the hell out of us, Andrew. Why would you do something like that?”

Andrew shrugged, looking a little less smug now. “I’ve seen too many relationships fall apart because of rumors, lies, and social media drama. I wanted to see if you two really trusted each other.”

I felt my blood boil. “You sent those messages? You made me think Mark was dangerous, and now you’re sitting here like it’s no big deal?”

Andrew held up his hands. “Okay, okay, maybe I went too far. But seriously, Ellie. Mark. Instead of coming to each other and talking about it, you both followed some anonymous messages. What does that say about your relationship?”

I glanced at Mark, and he looked just as furious as I felt. But there was something else there too — an uncomfortable truth. Andrew had a point, even if it was buried under layers of cruelty.

The rest of the conversation was tense. Andrew apologized, though it didn’t feel like enough. He explained that he’d been curious to see if we would trust each other when faced with something scary, or if we’d go behind each other’s backs.

And while we were furious at him for putting us through that, there was a part of me that realized how much the situation had revealed.

When Mark and I left the bakery, neither of us said much at first. The shock of the whole thing was still settling in, but the weight of what we’d just experienced wasn’t lost on me.

Finally, I broke the silence. “Do you think Andrew’s right?”

Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I hate to admit it, but maybe. I mean, we didn’t talk to each other. We let a few anonymous messages get in our heads.”

We both knew trust was something that couldn’t be taken for granted. And while Andrew’s prank was cruel, it showed us that the only way to keep our relationship strong was to face our fears and doubts head-on — together.

Liked this story? Consider reading this one: A young couple, Amber and Mark, were happily married until one day Mark found strange receipts among his wife’s things. These purchases were for a child they didn’t have. What is Amber hiding? Mark decides to uncover the truth, which will change their lives forever.

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.

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.

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,” 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…”

“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!”

“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…”

“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.”

“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.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who was shocked and hurt when his wife of thirty years asked for a divorce even though he’d always been a faithful husband.

After a week of sun and sand, Catherine was shocked to discover her new neighbor Jeffrey had built an imposing fence on her property. As a single mom, she couldn’t let this slide. What did she do to teach him a lesson he’d never forget?

Life as a single mom isn’t easy, but I’ve been making it work. I’m Catherine, 40 years old, and I’ve been raising my two boys, Liam (10) and Chris (8), all by myself for the past year.

Their father and I parted ways when I caught him cheating with another woman. Well, that’s a story for another time.

About two months ago, I bought a new house and moved in with my kids. It’s in a peaceful neighborhood with a beautiful forest nearby.

Everything about our new neighborhood seemed perfect until I met my next-door neighbor, Jeffrey. We had been at odds since the beginning.

I’ll never forget our first interaction.

It had been a day since we moved in when I heard a knock at my door. I opened it and saw him standing at my doorstep with a folder in his hand.

“Hello there, neighbor!” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Jeffrey. Welcome to the neighborhood!”

I shook his hand.

How nice! I thought. If only I knew what was coming in the days ahead.

“I wanted to discuss something important with you,” he continued, opening his folder.

“The previous owners signed this contract allowing me to build a fence on the property line.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Okay…?”

“So, I’ll be starting construction next week,” he said matter-of-factly.

I was stunned. “Excuse me? You’re not even asking for my permission?”

“Well, I have the contract right here—”

“That contract was with the previous owners,” I interrupted. “I’m the owner now, and I don’t want a fence blocking my view and sunlight.”

That’s when his face turned red.

“But I need this fence for privacy!” he yelled. “I’ve been planning this for months!”

“Why should I care about what the FORMER owner said?” I asked, but I never got a straight answer.

I just saw Jeffrey stomp out of my house.

Since that day, he’s been arguing with me almost every week about this fence. Apparently, he wants to host fancy garden parties without his guests seeing into my yard.

Well, excuse me for existing!

I couldn’t let him build that fence. I didn’t buy this house to stare at wooden planks instead of the beautiful sky and trees.

Little did I know, things were about to get much worse.

A few weeks ago, I decided to take my boys on a much-needed vacation. Liam and Chris were bouncing off the walls with excitement.

“Mom, can we go to the beach?” Liam asked.

Chris chimed in, “Yeah! And can we build a huge sandcastle?”

“Of course, boys!” I said as I hugged them. “We’ll do all that and more!”

We left for a week, looking forward to sun, sand, and relaxation. If only I’d known what was waiting for us when we got back.

As we pulled into our driveway, I noticed something odd. My heart sank as I realized what had happened.

“Boys, stay in the car for a minute,” I said as I got out.

My blood boiled with each step I took toward our house.

As I peeked to the right, I realized what had happened. There, right in front of our windows, stood a tall wooden fence. On our property. One foot from my windows!

“What the hell?!” I shouted, not caring who heard me.

Liam and Chris came running up behind me.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Chris asked in a worried voice.

I took a deep breath. I had to stay calm for their sake. “Nothing, sweetie. Just a little… surprise from our neighbor.”

“But Mom,” Liam said, frowning, “we can’t see the trees anymore.”

My heart broke.

Jeffrey’s stupid fence had replaced the beautiful view from our windows that my boys loved so much. Now, we couldn’t even see the sky!

I couldn’t let this slide. I had to teach Jeffrey a lesson.

I had two options. Either take the legal route and wait for the authorities to take action or take matters into my own hands.

I chose the second one because my boys and I didn’t have enough time to take the legal route.

Later that night, I went to the pet store. I had a plan that I knew would work.

“Can I help you find anything?” the clerk asked.

I smiled sweetly. “Yes, I’m looking for an animal attractant spray. The strongest you have.”

After returning home, I waited until the neighborhood was asleep. Then, I went up to his precious fence and poured an entire bottle of the attractant liquid.

The pheromone scent was strong. It was designed to attract dogs for training purposes. But I had a feeling it might attract more than just dogs.

I did this for several nights in a row, ensuring the solution covered every inch of the fence.

Then, I waited.

It didn’t take long for results to show.

One night, as I was taking out the trash, I saw a stray dog lift its leg against the fence. I had to stifle a laugh.

“Good boy,” I whispered.

Over the next few days, more and more animals started visiting the fence. Foxes, raccoons, even a moose once! They all seemed to think Jeffrey’s fence was the perfect place to do their business.

I watched from my window as Jeffrey discovered the mess one morning. His face turned an impressive shade of purple as he realized what was happening.

But to my surprise, he didn’t take down the fence.

He started cleaning it.

Every morning, Jeffrey would come out with a bucket and scrub brush, muttering under his breath as he cleaned off the nightly deposits.

But no matter how much he cleaned, he couldn’t get rid of the pheromone scent. The animals kept coming back, night after night.

Soon, the smell became unbearable. Even my boys started to notice.

“Mom,” Chris said one day, holding his nose, “it stinks outside!”

Liam nodded in agreement. “Yeah, can we play inside today?”

“I know it smells bad, boys,” I said. “Just give it a few more days, okay?”

They nodded, but I could see they were disappointed. I hoped my plan would work soon.

The next day, I was coming back from a grocery run when I saw one of our other neighbors, Mrs. Thompson, knocking on Jeffrey’s door.

I slowed down, pretending to check my mail as I eavesdropped.

“Jeffrey,” Mrs. Thompson began, “what on earth is that smell coming from your yard? It’s awful!”

Jeffrey seemed so embarrassed.

“I… I’m working on it, Mrs. Thompson. There’s been a bit of an animal problem.”

“Well, work faster!” she snapped. “It’s affecting the whole neighborhood!”

As Mrs. Thompson stormed off, Jeffrey caught my eye. He had this apologetic look on his face that I had never seen before. I smiled at him and quickly walked into my house.

That evening, I watched from my other window as Jeffrey attacked the fence with every cleaning product known to man.

He scrubbed and sprayed for hours, but the smell lingered. Finally, he threw down his brush in defeat and trudged back to his house.

The next morning, I was awakened by a loud noise outside. I peeked through my curtains and had to blink a few times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

I could see Jeffrey overseeing a team of workers as they took down the fence.

I couldn’t believe my plan had actually worked!

I woke up the boys with the good news. “Liam! Chris! Come look outside!”

They raced to the window, their eyes widening as they saw the fence coming down.

“Mom, we can see the trees again!” Chris exclaimed.

Liam hugged me tight. “You’re the best, Mom!”

And with that, our view was restored, and Jeffrey had learned his lesson. However, the story doesn’t end there.

Later that day, Jeffrey approached me while I was gardening in the front yard.

“Catherine,” he started, clearing his throat, “I, uh… I want to apologize.”

“Oh?” I pretended to act surprised.

He nodded. “I shouldn’t have put up that fence without your permission. It was wrong of me.”

“Yes, it was,” I agreed, crossing my arms.

“I’ve learned my lesson,” he continued. “From now on, I’ll respect your property and your rights as a neighbor.”

“Apology accepted, Jeffrey,” I smiled. “Let’s start over, shall we?”

“I’d like that.”

As Jeffrey walked away, I couldn’t help but feel proud. I had stood up for myself and my boys, and in the end, everything worked out.

That incident taught me that life sometimes puts you in situations where you have to get creative to find a solution, just like I had to come up with a plan to teach Jeffrey a lesson he’ll never forget.

Do you think I did the right thing?

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: When Margaret’s entitled neighbor Brian filled in her beloved pond while she was away, he had no idea of the fierce, determined response he’d provoke. Margaret, who seemed like a lonely older woman, devised a plan that turned Brian’s life upside down.