I believed it was a plumbing issue when my mother-in-law came in unexpectedly. It turns out she had another idea. She used stronger techniques than I anticipated.<\/p>\n
After a long, exhausting day, I wanted peace and quiet at home. But as I opened the door, I sensed trouble. The house was full with boxes. My heart jumped.<\/p>\n
I cautiously crossed a mound of shoes to dump my luggage at the door and follow the chaos down the hall. I saw her then. Faye, my mother-in-law, unpacked in the guest room like nothing.<\/p>\n
Clothing was thrown on the bed. Jasmine-scented perfume permeated the air, and her nightstand had dog images.<\/p>\n
\u201cFaye?\u201d Trying to keep cool, my voice was strained. \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n
She waved and said, \u201cOh, didn\u2019t Luke tell you? My home had a little issue. Pipes burst, flooding everything. I\u2019ll remain till it\u2019s fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n
vid<\/p>\n
I blinked. Flooding? That made no sense. In her freshly renovated home, everything was top-notch. I hadn\u2019t heard of difficulties till recently.<\/p>\n
Before I could comprehend it, Luke was behind me. He avoided my gaze, seeming guilty. \u201cYes, about that.\u201d Rubbing his neck, he shifted clumsily. \u201cFaye will stay with us. While she organizes her home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you didn\u2019t tell me?\u201d Sharply staring, I asked.<\/p>\n
No big deal, he shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s temporary, babe. You get along with Faye?<\/p>\n
Get along? If by \u201cget along,\u201d he meant her backhanded remarks about how we\u2019d been married six years and hadn\u2019t had grandchildren, then yes. We were friends. I faked a grin, like you do when you\u2019re losing it. Of course. Totally understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
I got up for water hours later after pretending everything was great. I heard murmuring as I passed the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you not tell her the real reason?\u201d Faye\u2019s loud voice broke the silence.<\/p>\n
Luke sighed. \u201cNo, Mom. I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d Faye grumbled, \u201cI\u2019m here to maintain order. After a lengthy marriage without children, someone must discover out why. No worries\u2014I\u2019ll handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach twisted. Not about pipes. Snooping was her purpose. To pressure me about kids. For my \u201cfix\u201d. Blood boiling, I stood paralyzed in the corridor. What had I entered?<\/p>\n
I had a plan the following morning. If Faye wanted to play, I would. I wouldn\u2019t argue with her. I would drown her in compassion. First portion of my \u201coperation.\u201d began at 8 a.m.<\/p>\n
I emptied our master bedroom. Every garment, picture frame, and memory of Luke and me was in the little guest room. I even pulled Faye\u2019s favorite daisy-patterned duvet from the linen closet and put it on the bed like a hotel.<\/p>\n
After finishing, I checked my work in the doorway. Her bed cover was lovely, her dog photographs were on the dresser, and I included a \u201cWelcome to Your New Home\u201d basket. Bath salts, jasmine candles, luxury chocolates.<\/p>\n
Luke arrived home from work and I was in the tight guest room shoving our clothing into whatever available area. Confusion covered his forehead as he entered. \u201cWhy are you here?\u201d Peered around the corner. \u201cWhere\u2019s our stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I moved everything,\u201d I responded, smiling my best. You believe your mom deserves the master bedroom? Only fair. She needs space more than us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shocked, his eyes widened. \u201cYou gave her our bedroom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d I grinned. Her family, after all. We\u2019ll be fine here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke studied my actions, mouth half-open. But what could he say? His mother was Faye, so I wasn\u2019t doing anything illegal. He groaned and left silently.<\/p>\n
Over the following four days, I treated Faye like a queen. Fresh towels in the morning, bedside snacks, and her favorite jasmine candles.<\/p>\n
She walked around the home like she owned it, beaming at me like she won. Faye was living lavishly, but Luke was losing it. Sharing the guest room drove him crazy. The confined quarters and his mom\u2019s new fixation with parenthood preparation.<\/p>\n
She always gave him a vitamin regimen in the morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to take these, Luke,\u201d she\u2019d thrust a multivitamin at him. Preparing your body for healthy babies is crucial.<\/p>\n
Luke would roll his eyes yet take the medications to silence her.<\/p>\n
It continued. \u201cShould you really be watching TV at night?\u201d she said over supper. \u201cThat\u2019s not baby-friendly. You should read parenting books. Or exercising. No more video games! Luke, grow up. I take fatherhood seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke was sitting on the bed edge gazing at a pile of parenting books his mom purchased online on day four.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019m losing my mind,\u201d he mumbled, holding up \u201cWhat To Expect When You\u2019re Expecting.\u201d \u201cShe expects me to read this.\u201d<\/p>\n
No doubt, I smiled. I laughed silently, \u201cWell, Luke, you did say we\u2019d be just fine, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Continuous. Faye increased it. She gave Luke a written \u201cfertility-boosting\u201d meal list one night. No more burgers or pizza\u2014spinach, quinoa, grilled fish. Smiled warmly, like she was helping him a lot.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour future kids will thank you,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n
Luke gazed at the list like a jail sentence. Wait, no pizza? Ever?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right, dear,\u201d she patted his shoulder. \u201cI scheduled your meals for the week. Clean diet will improve your mood.\u201d<\/p>\n
We ate dry fish and insipid spinach for supper that night. Faye studied Luke\u2019s plate and face like a hawk. The squirming man poked his meal.<\/p>\n
\u201cLuke,\u201d she said, \u201cdid you take your vitamins this morning?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sighing, he forked the spinach. \u201cYes, Mom. I got them.\u201d<\/p>\n
What about the gym? You have time for that? You gained some weight. Fitness is key to being a good dad.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t resist. I kicked him under the table to stop laughing. The expression on his face was a mix of anger and despair. He was eventually affected after days of this.<\/p>\n
After Faye went to bed, Luke rubbed his temples and looked at me. His voice was low and pleading. I can\u2019t do this anymore, Kiera. The guest room, vitamins, and baby talk\u2026 Going insane.\u201d<\/p>\n
Biting my lip, I tried not to grin. \u201cYou have to admit,\u201d I remarked, laughing, \u201cit\u2019s kind of funny.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eyes narrowed. \u201cNot funny.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just a little chuckle. \u201cOkay, it\u2019s funny.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke collapsed on the bed, grumbling. I booked her a room at the nearby hotel. Another day of this is too much.\u201d<\/p>\n
The following morning, he announced it during breakfast.<\/p>\n
I rented you a wonderful motel nearby till your home renovations are done, mom. You\u2019ll feel better there.\u201d<\/p>\n
She blinked, surprised. \u201cBut I\u2019m fine here! Shouldn\u2019t you two be serious about giving me grandchildren?<\/p>\n
Luke clenched Jaw. We\u2019ll decide when we\u2019re ready, mom. For now, the hotel is ideal for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Faye gazed at him. She grudgingly nodded, recognizing she had no defense. \u201cIf you insist.\u201d<\/p>\n
The day ended with her departure. The home was ours again.<\/p>\n
Luke sighed in relief as the door closed behind her and plunged into the sofa. \u201cFinally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sitting next to him, I smiled. What about spinach for dinner?<\/p>\n
Groaned. \u201cNever again.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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