A doting grandfather was banned from his granddaughter’s wedding after his children found out he worked as a janitor. But they were in for the surprise of their lives when the bride chose her grandfather over everything else on that special day.
Edward was delighted that his granddaughter Cynthia was finally getting married. He had always dreamed of witnessing the occasion and giving her a unique gift that would last a lifetime.
Unfortunately, Edward only had enough money to get by. He was paying rent and also had to cover the cost of expensive maintenance medications.
Getting Cynthia an expensive gift was non-negotiable for him, so he decided to get a job. The only place willing to hire him at his age was a janitorial service for a local park.
At first, Edward wasn’t thrilled about the idea, but his determination to give his granddaughter a meaningful gift outweighed his hesitation.
Exactly six months before the wedding, he began working. It gave him enough time to save for the gift and even set aside some money for his needs. Every afternoon, he worked at the park and returned home at night thinking about what he could give Cynthia.
Edward didn’t want to give her just any gift — he wanted something valuable, something she could cherish and pass on to her children. After thinking it over, he remembered how much Cynthia had loved his late wife’s necklace as a child. That piece had been inherited by his eldest daughter and was not something she would give up.
Instead, Edward decided to buy jewelry that could become a new family heirloom.
He visited a jewelry store to set a goal for himself. He calculated that earning $15 an hour, working seven hours a day, four days a week, would give him enough money by the wedding.
One set immediately caught his eye: a diamond necklace, bracelet, and earrings that reminded him of what his wife used to wear. The set cost $5,000, and Edward was relieved to know he could afford it.
Every day at work, he passed by the jewelry store and admired the set, imagining Cynthia’s reaction. After four months, he had enough money to buy it, but he decided to finish his six-month contract to have extra funds for his medication and bills. He wanted to savor the reward of his hard work.
Two weeks before the wedding, Edward was sweeping the park when his eldest daughter, Meryl, spotted him. At first, she couldn’t believe it, but when she looked closer, she realized it was indeed her father working as a janitor.
Embarrassed, she told Cynthia’s mother, Sharon. They both felt ashamed, especially with Cynthia about to marry into a wealthy family. They assumed people had already seen Edward working at the park and found his job disgraceful.
Edward, unaware of their feelings, remained excited about the wedding. On his last day of work, he took his savings and bought the jewelry set, carefully placing it in a beautiful box.
That night, he barely slept, imagining Cynthia’s joy.
The next day, Edward dressed in an old suit from his corporate days. He made sure his hair was neat and his shoes were polished. Holding the gift, he headed to the church, smiling.
But outside the church, Sharon stopped him.
“You can’t go in there, Dad,” she said.
“Why not? Cynthia invited me,” Edward replied, confused.
Sharon scolded him for working as a janitor, saying it embarrassed the family. She told him people couldn’t know Cynthia’s grandfather worked such a job.
Edward’s eyes filled with tears.
“Do you even know why I took the job?” he asked softly.
“I don’t care,” Sharon replied coldly. “Please leave.”
Heartbroken, Edward handed her the gift box and walked away. He cried on the way home, devastated that he was banned from his own granddaughter’s wedding — especially since he took the job for her.
At home, he sat quietly on the couch until the doorbell rang.
When he opened the door, Cynthia rushed into his arms.
“Grandpa! Why weren’t you at my wedding?” she asked.
She explained that she couldn’t find him and confronted her mother, who lied. When Cynthia saw the gift, she realized how much he must have sacrificed.
When Sharon admitted Edward worked as a janitor, Cynthia was furious.
“You could never dishonor this family,” she said. “This family exists because of you.”
Cynthia told him she refused to continue the ceremony without him. She expressed how proud she was of him and everything he had done.
With the help of Cynthia’s fiancé, Jackson, Edward changed back into his suit. Together, they returned to the church.
Edward proudly walked Cynthia down the aisle beside her father. She wore the jewelry he had given her.
