Nobody Marries a Fat Girl
Copyright© 2025 by Megumi Kashuahara
Chapter 5: Mrs. Jamison
December in California was nothing like December in Japan.
Suki stood in the San Jose airport, clutching Brad’s hand as they waited for his family to arrive at the pickup area. She was nervous—more nervous than she’d been for anything except maybe Brad’s proposal. Meeting his parents, meeting Emma, being welcomed into the Jamison family ... it felt enormous.
“They’re going to love you,” Brad said for the hundredth time, squeezing her hand. “Stop worrying.”
“What if they think I’m not good enough for you? What if they wonder why you’re marrying me when you could—”
“Suki.” Brad stopped walking and turned to face her, right there in the middle of the airport. “My parents have talked to you on video chat five times. Emma texts you almost every day. They already love you. This trip is just to make it official.”
Before Suki could respond, a shriek echoed through the arrivals area.
“BRAD! SUKI!”
A tall young woman came running toward them—Emma, unmistakable with her height and the same sandy blonde hair as Brad. She was wearing jeans and a sweater, and she was beautiful in a way that made Suki’s chest ache with recognition—beautiful in the way society often didn’t acknowledge, curvy and solid and absolutely radiant.
Emma crashed into both of them, pulling them into a fierce hug. “Oh my god, you’re here! You’re actually here! Suki, let me see you!”
She pulled back and held Suki at arm’s length, studying her with bright blue eyes—Brad’s eyes. Then she pulled Suki into another hug, this one just for her.
“Welcome to the family,” Emma whispered. “I’m so happy you’re going to be my sister.”
Suki felt tears prick her eyes. “Thank you. I’m happy too.”
Behind Emma, Brad’s parents approached at a more sedate pace. His father was tall like Brad, distinguished-looking with graying hair and kind eyes. His mother was petite and elegant, with Brad’s smile.
“Suki, sweetheart, it’s so wonderful to finally meet you in person,” Mrs. Jamison said, pulling her into a warm embrace. “Brad hasn’t stopped talking about you since the day you met.”
“Thank you for having me, Mrs. Jamison.”
“Please, call me Susan. And this is David.” She gestured to her husband.
Brad’s father extended his hand, but when Suki shook it, he pulled her into a hug as well. “Welcome, Suki. Any woman who makes my son this happy is family.”
The warmth of their welcome, the ease with which they accepted her, made Suki’s throat tight. She’d been so afraid they’d judge her, question Brad’s choice, wonder what their son saw in her. Instead, they welcomed her like she’d always belonged.
The Jamison house was beautiful—a sprawling ranch-style home in the hills above San Jose, with views of the valley and enough space that Suki felt momentarily overwhelmed. Her own family’s home in Osaka was comfortable but modest. This was something else entirely.
“Guest room is upstairs,” Susan said, leading the way. “Suki, you’re in here. Brad, you’re across the hall.”
Brad caught his mother’s eye and grinned. “Really, Mom? Separate rooms?”
“You’re not married yet,” Susan said primly, but she was smiling. “House rules.”
Emma helped Suki unpack while Brad caught up with his father downstairs. The guest room was cozy and welcoming, decorated in soft blues and whites, with a large window overlooking the garden.
“So,” Emma said, flopping onto the bed while Suki hung up her clothes. “Tell me everything. How’s wedding planning going? Have you picked a dress? What’s the ceremony going to be like?”
Suki smiled at Emma’s enthusiasm. “It’s going well. My mother is very excited—maybe too excited. She wants everything to be perfect.” She pulled out her phone and showed Emma photos of potential venues. “We’re thinking the Osaka Garden—it’s beautiful in spring, and it can accommodate both a Shinto ceremony and a Western-style reception.”
“That’s gorgeous!” Emma scrolled through the photos. “And you’d get cherry blossoms as your backdrop. Suki, that’s so romantic.”
“Brad suggested it. He said he wanted our wedding to feel like us—a mix of both our cultures, both our traditions.”
Emma’s expression softened. “He really loves you, you know. I’ve never seen my brother like this. Growing up, he dated, but it was always casual. He never talked about any of those girls the way he talks about you. You’re different. Special.”
Suki felt herself blushing. “He’s special too. He saved me, Emma. I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s true. Before Brad, I thought I was unlovable. I thought I’d spend my whole life alone because I didn’t fit Japan’s beauty standards. And then he saw me. Really saw me. And everything changed.”
“That’s what love is supposed to do,” Emma said quietly. “Change everything.”
There was something in her voice—a wistfulness, maybe—that made Suki look at her more closely. Emma was beautiful, with her height and her curves and her bright smile. But Suki recognized the shadow behind her eyes, the way she held herself like she was taking up too much space.
“Brad told me about your struggles,” Suki said gently. “With your weight, with how people treat you. I want you to know ... I understand. And if you ever want to talk, about any of it, I’m here.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you. I—” She laughed shakily. “God, I just met you and you’re already making me cry. Brad was right, you’re the gentlest person.”
“Not always,” Suki admitted. “Sometimes I’m scared and insecure and I make Brad repeat that he loves me about fifty times a day.”
“That sounds familiar,” Emma said with a watery smile. “I do that with my boyfriend—well, ex-boyfriend now. He got tired of the constant reassurance. Said I was too needy.”
“Then he didn’t deserve you.” Suki sat on the bed next to Emma. “The right person won’t get tired of reassuring you. They’ll understand that you need it and they’ll give it freely. Like Brad does for me.”
“I want that,” Emma whispered. “I want what you and Brad have.”
“You’ll find it,” Suki promised. “And in the meantime, you have a sister now. Who will remind you as many times as you need to hear it that you’re beautiful and worthy and enough.”
Emma hugged her fiercely. “I’m so glad you’re marrying my brother.”
The week in California was a whirlwind of family activities and wedding planning discussions. Susan took Suki shopping, helping her look at potential wedding dress styles—though Suki would have the actual dress made in Japan, Susan wanted to help her envision what she wanted. David and Brad spent hours talking about Brad’s future career plans, discussing opportunities in both Japan and the US.
But the best moments were the quiet ones. Sitting around the dinner table with Brad’s whole family, laughing at childhood stories about Brad that Emma delighted in sharing. Walking through downtown San Jose with Emma, talking about everything and nothing. Video calling Suki’s parents so the two families could meet virtually and discuss wedding plans.
One afternoon, while Brad and his father were out running errands, Susan pulled Suki aside for tea in the garden.
“I wanted to talk to you,” Susan said gently. “Just the two of us.”
Suki’s heart jumped nervously. “Of course.”
“Brad told me about how you met. About the bullying, about your struggles with self-image.” Susan’s eyes were compassionate. “I want you to know that David and I see what Brad sees—a beautiful, kind, intelligent young woman who makes our son happier than we’ve ever seen him.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Jami—Susan.” Suki twisted her engagement ring, a nervous habit she’d developed. “I love him so much. Sometimes I still can’t believe he chose me.”
“He chose you because you’re exactly who he wants. But Suki...” Susan reached across the table and took her hand. “I also want you to know that you’re marrying into a family that will support you. If you ever need anything—advice, support, just someone to talk to—we’re here. You’re our daughter now, as much as Emma is.”
Suki’s eyes filled with tears. Her own parents loved her, but they’d never quite known how to handle her weight struggles, her pain. Susan’s offer of unconditional support felt like a gift.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “That means more than you know.”
Christmas Day was warm and sunny—so different from the cold winters Suki was used to in Japan. The family exchanged gifts in the morning, and Suki was touched by how much thought everyone had put into her presents. Emma gave her a beautiful journal “for planning your new life together.” David and Susan gave her a delicate necklace with both a cherry blossom charm and a California poppy—representing both her homeland and her new family.
But the best gift came from Brad. After all the other presents had been opened, he pulled out one more box—small and wrapped in silver paper.
“One more thing,” he said, handing it to Suki.
Inside was a photo album, beautifully bound in leather. The first page had a photo from their first official date—Suki hadn’t even known Brad had taken it, but somehow he’d captured her laughing at something he’d said, her face lit up with joy. The subsequent pages chronicled their relationship: study sessions in the library, their trip to the aquarium, the moment Brad met her parents, his proposal at the castle park.
But it was the last few pages that made Suki cry. They were blank, with a note in Brad’s handwriting:
“For all the memories we haven’t made yet. For our wedding day, our first home, our future children, all the adventures still to come. I can’t wait to fill these pages with you. I love you. Forever, Brad.”
“Oh,” Suki breathed, tears streaming down her face. “Brad...”
“Do you like it?” He was smiling but his eyes were anxious.
“I love it. I love you.” She kissed him, not caring that his whole family was watching. “It’s perfect.”
Emma was crying too. “Okay, that was unfairly romantic. Now I need to go find a boyfriend who can compete with that.”
Everyone laughed, and the rest of Christmas Day was filled with food and games and the kind of easy family warmth that Suki had always dreamed of but never quite experienced. The Jamisons welcomed her completely, never once making her feel like an outsider or questioning her place in their family.
The week ended too quickly. On their last night in California, Brad and Suki sat in the garden long after everyone else had gone to bed, wrapped in blankets against the cool evening air.
“Your family is wonderful,” Suki said, leaning against Brad’s shoulder. “Emma is amazing, your parents are so kind ... I can see where you get your goodness from.”
“They love you. Emma’s already planning to come to Japan for the wedding—she’s saving up for the plane ticket.”
“I’ll pay for it,” Suki said immediately. “I want her there.”
“We’ll pay for it,” Brad corrected. “Together. We’re a team now, remember?”
Suki smiled and held up her left hand, watching her engagement ring catch the garden lights. “Mrs. Suki Jamison. I still can’t believe it’s really happening.”
“Believe it.” Brad kissed the top of her head. “In less than four months, you’re going to walk down an aisle and become my wife. And I’m going to be the luckiest man alive.”
“I’m the lucky one.”
“We’re both lucky.” Brad turned her face up to his. “I love you, Suki. Thank you for saying yes to me. Thank you for trusting me with your heart. Thank you for being brave enough to believe you deserve happiness.”
“I’m still learning to believe that,” Suki admitted. “But with you, it gets easier every day.”
They sat in comfortable silence, watching the stars appear one by one in the California sky. Tomorrow they’d fly back to Japan and dive into the final months of wedding planning. But tonight, they were exactly where they needed to be—together, surrounded by family, preparing to build a life that had seemed impossible just six months ago.
April in Osaka