After Theresa gives birth to her son, Blake, she faces the challenges of first-time motherhood, prompting Evelyn, her mother-in-law, to move in with them. Nick and Evelyn dote on Theresa and the baby, making her feel loved and cherished. However, Theresa overhears a conversation that leads her to question: Does her husband really want her gone?
In the fragile, sleep-deprived chaos of new motherhood, I never imagined that an overheard conversation could spiral into a heart-stopping drama.
A yawning newborn baby | Source: Unsplash
Nick and I were closer than ever since Blake, our son, was born. He was attentive, doting on our son and me, constantly bringing home my favorite food and little onesies that he had picked up during his lunch hours.
On the other hand, I was struggling. I loved being a mom and watching my son change every day. I didn’t mind the sleepless nights or constantly rocking Blake to sleep. It was everything I had wanted.
A woman holding her baby | Source: Pexels
But the real struggle was with breastfeeding. As much as I tried, nothing came out. I ate apricots and dates multiple times a day because every blog I read mentioned them.
“Theresa,” my mother-in-law said, “it’s because of stress. You need some help.”
Evelyn, being a midwife, was someone I trusted implicitly. Thanks to her, my pregnancy and labor had been easy to navigate. When Blake was born, she did everything for me, from helping me to the bathroom to putting on my socks.
A plate of dried dates | Source: Pexels
So, when Nick suggested that Evelyn move in with us, I felt like I had won the mother-in-law jackpot.
Evelyn cooked for us and she insisted I nap throughout the day. And ensured that we had a family dinner every evening.
“If you can’t sleep, Theresa, then just watch something, or read a book. If you need anything, just call me,” she said, picking Blake up for diaper duty.
Although Evelyn was great, Nick reassured me that the moment I felt good on my own, he would ask his mother to move back home.
“It’s just temporary,” he said. “Mom’s here to help make our lives easier while your body rests.”
A family sitting at the table | Source: Pexels
Nothing seemed off, right?
That’s what I thought too.
Until this past weekend, when my mother-in-law and Nick put me straight to bed after they had cooked up an elaborate brunch.
I didn’t object; all the rest was paying off, and my milk supply was finally coming in too.
After my nap, I awoke to a quiet house. Curiosity led me downstairs, wondering where everyone was. As I got to the living room, I overheard a conversation that chilled me to the bone.
I peeked around the corner and saw Evelyn holding a sleeping Blake, with a huge grin on her face.
A person covering her face with a book | Source: Pexels
“Oh, son!” she said triumphantly. “Our plan has worked! That stupid girl has no idea that we’re getting rid of her once and for all.”
Nick, sitting across from his mother and eating jerky, nodded enthusiastically.
“Finally, an end to the constant complaining. It was driving me insane. I can’t wait to be rid of her for good.”
The blood in my veins turned to ice. Betrayal, sharp and bitter, filled my mouth. I felt dizzy. Tears ran down my face before I could fully process what I’d heard.
A shocked woman covering her mouth | Source: Pexels
“What is this? You’re trying to get rid of me?” I gasped for air as I spoke.
My husband and mother-in-law glanced at each other, Evelyn clutching onto Blake.
“No! Theresa, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s not what you think,” they protested.
“It sounded pretty clear,” I said, leaning against the wall.
“Dearest,” Evelyn said, “let us explain.”
Their words were desperate. But I still felt a chill run through my body.
“Explain what?” I demanded. “Explain how you’re trying to get rid of me? How could I possibly misunderstand that?”
A man sitting on a couch | Source: Unsplash
“Honey,” Nick interjected. “It’s not about you! It’s about Becky!”
Becky, one of my friends from high school, had stuck to me my entire life, even as most of my other friends had moved away or we had grown apart.
“Becky?” I asked cautiously. “Why Becky?”
“Because she’s toxic, Theresa. I’ve seen how she drains you, and now, Mom has seen it too. All she does is add to your stress. When has she ever come over to help out or just spend time with Blake?”
I couldn’t argue with Nick. He was absolutely correct. I felt a loyalty bond to Becky because of how long we’d known each other. But we were at different stages in our lives. Becky didn’t care about having a career or a family — she just wanted to meet new people.
Two similig women at the beach | Source: Unsplash
Since Blake was born, she had never gotten my son anything, which bewildered me because I thought that as my oldest friend, she would have wanted to spoil him.
But that wasn’t the case.
Becky preferred to come over and watch TV while I baked something she wanted to eat.
“And we knew that after today, she had to leave,” Evelyn said.
“What happened today?” I asked.
“When you were asleep, she came over and tried to barge her way in. Mom told her that you were resting and that you shouldn’t be disturbed,” Nick explained.
A person baking gingerbread cookies | Source: Pexels
“Oh, but she was adamant. She was a mess today. She demanded money from me, saying that she needed it urgently because she was behind on rent. And that Brent, the guy she was seeing, dumped her. He was supposed to pay her rent, but he left without doing so,” my mother-in-law added.
“I’m sorry, honey,” Nick said. “But we couldn’t allow it.”
I was grateful. If they had allowed Becky in to see me, she would have gotten into my bed with her shoes on, smudging her makeup on my pillows. She would have cried endlessly about her latest breakup.
Becky would have convinced me to give her money. And before she left, she would have coaxed me into baking something.
A close-up of a sad woman | Source: Pexels
I wasn’t proud of it, but when it came to Becky, I was a shell of the confident woman I had grown into.
“I told her that we’re moving away,” Nick confessed. “I’m sorry, but I think it’s for the best.”
“We didn’t want to burden you with this decision right now, given everything you’re going through. But she’s toxic, Theresa,” Evelyn chimed in. “Maybe Becky will finally take responsibility for her life.”
Their words were a balm to the raw edges of the initial betrayal I had felt. Slowly, a different picture began to emerge, painted with love and protection.
“I thought you wanted me gone,” I sighed.
My mother-in-law handed Blake to me and went into the kitchen to make us some tea.
A person pouring tea | Source: Pexels
I had been so consumed by my own struggles that I hadn’t noticed the toll Becky’s dependency was taking on me — and, by extension, on my family.
A few days later, I called Becky because I wanted to clear the air and be honest with her.
We met at a café, allowing me to get out of the house for a while.
Becky was already sitting down when I got there, sipping on a cocktail despite it being so early in the day.
“I thought you’d have moved by now,” Becky said coldly. “I needed you.”
I began to speak, telling Becky everything I needed to. She gasped at some moments, cried at others, and in the end, she was just standoffish.
Women sitting in a cafe | Source: Pexels
“I’m done with you,” she declared. “You’ve become another person since you had your baby. You’re selfish.”
That was the final straw I needed. When Nick and my mother-in-law went ahead and did what they did — turning Becky away — I was conflicted. On one hand, I cherished that they were looking after me in this way, making sure that a toxic friendship would come to an end.
But on the other hand, a part of me felt as though my hand had been forced.
Meeting with Becky had just solidified the fact that our friendship was no longer sustainable. I’m a mother now; I needed to focus on my child.
A smiling baby on a mat | Source: Pexels
What would you have done?
Leave a Reply